Adopted November 5, 2019
Northfield Climate Action Plan Carbon Free |2040 Letter from Advisory Board
Climate change stories are increasingly in the news. Just as climate scientists have predicted, Minnesota temperatures have been more extreme, lakes are warming, allergy season is lengthening, forests are stressed and shifting north, and we have experienced three 500-year floods in the last decade. All of these events cost millions of dollars in repairs, medical bills, and emergency expenditures.
Climate change is defined by the National Network for Ocean and Climate Change Interpretation, NNOCCI, as the following: “The atmosphere is like a blanket that surrounds the earth. When we burn fossil fuels like coal and gas, we pump more and more carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gasses into the atmosphere, and this build-up creates a blanket effect, trapping in heat around the world. If nothing is done to halt this process, the planet we leave our children will be hotter with more violent weather, fewer species, and disrupted systems.“
The projections are that the more greenhouse gases we emit into the atmosphere, the warmer the planet - and Northfield - will become, further increasing the negative consequences listed above.
Recognizing this, the Northfield City Council added “Climate Change Impacts” to one of its six strategic priorities in its 2018-2020 Strategic Plan. This established a Climate Action Plan Advisory Board to help the city prepare a climate action plan for the future well-being of the town and its people.
The plan has two main components:
1. Decreasing our greenhouse gas emissions through mitigation strategies. 2. Becoming more resilient to prepare for a changing climate.
This plan has been developed over the last 18 months with input from over 50 citizens serving on six subcommittees.
Inaction is no longer an option on climate change. We Northfielders have been leading the charge on climate action for decades. This plan is a culmination of past work and puts us on a path for a sustainable community. The Climate Action Plan Advisory Board enthusiastically presents this plan to the City of Northfield with hopes of swift action of collaboration and innovation to do our part in lessening our negative impact on Earth.
Sincerely,
The Northfield Climate Action Plan Advisory Board Photo Credit: Great Plains Institute
City of Northfield Draft Climate Action Plan 2 Table of Contents
Letter from Advisory Board...... 2 Table of Contents...... 3 Acknowledgements...... 4 Glossary...... 5 Executive Summary...... 7 Introduction...... 10 Northfield Emissions: Where are we today?...... 13 Community-wide Greenhouse Gas Emissions...... 14 City Operations GHG Emissions Inventory...... 22 Emissions Reduction Targets and Plan Impact...... 25 Priorities, Strategies, & Actions for Climate Mitigation 29 Education and Engagement...... 29 Policy and Planning...... 35 Innovation and Demonstration...... 39 Supporting the Plan...... 41 Climate Adaptation and Resilience...... 42 Local Climate Hazards...... 43 Resilience Assessment...... 44 Climate Resilience Strategies...... 57 Plan Implementation...... 60 Looking Ahead ...... 64
Photo Credit: Great Plains Institute
City of Northfield Draft Climate Action Plan 3 Acknowledgements
The City of Northfield Climate Action Plan is the culmination of extensive energy, effort, and passion on the part of the Climate Action Planning Advisory Board, composed of volunteer citizens and local experts, as well as representation and insight from the public, private, and nonprofit sectors. The City of Northfield offers sincere gratitude to each individual who contributed to this effort in any capacity, without whom there would not be a Climate Action Plan.
City of Northfield Staff Prepared through collaboration with: David Bennett Beth Kallestad The Great Plains Institute Bryanna Parrmann Abby Finis Wanda Playter Jenna Greene Justin Wagner Jessi Wyatt
Climate Action Plan Advisory LHB, Inc. Board (CAPAB) Becky Alexander
CAPAB Co-Chairs Orange Environmental Alex Miller Michael Orange Alan Anderson Photos provided by: CAPAB Members The Great Plains Institute Pat Allen The City of Northfield Bruce Anderson Carleton College Mary Jo Cristofaro Growing Up Healthy Clarice Grenier Grabau George Kinney Martha Larson Special thank you to all CAPAB members, Bruce Morlan subcommittee members and volunteers, and Photo Credit: Great Plains Institute Katie Schroeer focus group participants who helped make this Philip Spensley plan a reality. Erica Zweifel
City of Northfield Draft Climate Action Plan 4 Glossary
Active Mobility: Any form of transportation or movement that involves human Conveyance Systems: Systems designed to collect and move (convey) stormwater physical activity. The most common forms include walking or cycling. away from where it falls. This can include roads with drainage systems, municipal streets, man-made channels, and stormwater pipes that allow stormwater to flow. Adaptation: Regarding climate change, adaptation is any adjustment in natural or human systems in response to actual or expected climatic stimuli or their effects, Equity: Regarding climate change, equity is primarily concerned with mitigation which moderates harm or maximizes benefits. of disproportionate impacts of changing climate to historically or currently disadvantaged or marginalized community members. Built Infrastructure: All the systems, buildings, construction, and technology created to help shape and power society. This includes buildings, homes, roads, bridges, Electric Vehicle (EV): A vehicle powered by electricity that is stored in the vehicle's telecommunications networks, as well as things like sewers, pipelines, and water battery. treatment facilities. Food Insecurity: Experienced when people lack secure access – be it from economic, Carbon Free: For the purpose of this plan and the 2040 goal, carbon free refers to geographic, situational, or individual barriers - to enough safe and nutritious food for a carbon neutral scenario where carbon dioxide emissions from human activity (i.e. normal growth and development and an active and healthy life. burning fossil fuels) are eliminated and/or offset by removing emissions from the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions: Gases that trap heat in the atmosphere are called atmosphere through sequestration in trees and soil, as well as using energy sources greenhouse gases. The most prevalent are carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide that are considered carbon neutral (e.g., bio-based sources). (N2O), and fluorinated gases. Carbon Sequestration: The capture and long-term storage of carbon dioxide from Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions Inventory: Categorizes all the emissions for a given the atmosphere. This occurs naturally in vegetation and soil. geographic scope. For a city like Northfield, a GHG inventory outlines total emissions City Emissions: All GHG emissions associated with city operations, including by sector (residential energy, commercial energy, water, waste, wastewater, and municipal buildings and facilities, water and wastewater treatment, services like transportation). The purpose is often to provide a baseline understanding of emissions police and fire, as well as streetlights. to help set targets and opportunities for reductions.
Community Emissions: All GHG emissions that occur within the city boundaries but GreenStep Cities (GSC): GreenStep Cities is a statewide program in Minnesota that not by the city; residential and commercial energy usage, transportation, and waste challenges cities to voluntarily commit to implementing various practices that aim to all fall under community. advance sustainability and quality-of-life goals for the city.
Climate Change: Significant changes in global temperature, precipitation, wind Large Consumers: Businesses or industry that use the largest volumes of energy patterns and other measures of climate that occur over several decades or longer. (electricity and natural gas). Climate change threatens the ability to sustain the Earth's living systems.
City of Northfield Draft Climate Action Plan 5 Mitigation: The act of reducing the sources and/or enhancing the sinks of coverage of the ground when viewed from above. greenhouse gas emissions to minimize the likelihood, severity, and impacts of events Urban Forest: Urban forests include urban parks, street trees, landscaped boulevards, associated with a changing climate. gardens, river and coastal promenades, greenways, river corridors, wetlands, nature Natural Infrastructure: Forests and wetlands, working landscapes, and other open preserves, shelter belts of trees, and working trees. spaces that conserves or enhances ecosystem values and functions and provides Vector-Borne Diseases: Human illnesses caused by parasites, viruses, and bacteria. associated benefits to human populations. Natural infrastructure can substitute or complement built infrastructure, providing carbon sequestration, air filtration, soil Vulnerability: The degree to which a system is susceptible to, and unable to cope with, nutrient organic carbon enhancement, among other benefits. adverse effects of climate change, including climate variability and extremes.
Potable Water: Potable water is water that is safe for drinking or cooking. Wastewater: All water that has been used in a home, in a business, or as part of an industrial process. Wastewater contains any range of organic matter, microorganisms In this document, resource recovery refers to a facility that uses Resource Recovery: (occasionally pathogenic), and inorganic compounds that need to be treated at a waste to generate electricity through combustion. wastewater treatment facility.
Resilience: The ability of an individual or community to respond, adapt, and be Waterborne Diseases: Waterborne illness is caused by contaminated recreational or minimally impacted by conditions of a changing climate. drinking water. The water may contaminated by bacteria or other toxins.
Small Consumers: Residential homes, dwellings, and small businesses or buildings that consistently utilize low energy or water volumes as part of their routine operations. Examples of small consumers in the City of Northfield include most residences, gas stations, and local stores.
Solar Garden: Centrally-located solar photovoltaic (PV) systems connected to the utility grid to which Xcel Energy customers may subscribe.
Storm Water: Water (precipitation) runoff from rain, snow melt, and surface runoff and drainage.
Sustainability: Avoidance of the depletion of natural resources in order to maintain an ecological balance and meeting the needs of today without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs, inclusive of natural resources, as well as social and economic resources.
Tree Canopy: The layer of tree leaves, branches, and stems that provide tree
City of Northfield Climate Action Plan 6 Executive Summary
A Changing Climate Climate change has wide-reaching causes and consequences, demanding a multi-faceted response from all levels of government and across all sectors. Local action is crucial to addressing climate change and local governments around the world are increasingly motivated to create a more sustainable, resilient future. Northfield has a long history of demonstrated commitment to sustainability, with residents taking action to increase solar and wind energy, conserve land and water, and support locally-supplied food, among other initiatives. Northfield’s commitment to sustainability and resilience provides an opportunity to continue taking audacious, innovative action on climate change. This Climate Action Plan (CAP) lays out a path forward to support both the community’s ongoing efforts and new initiatives that mitigate the cause of and adapt to the impacts of climate change, ensuring that the community remains a safe, healthy home for all Northfield residents.
Our Goal The City of Northfield is committed to 100% carbon-free electricity by 2030 and being a 100% carbon-free community by 2040. This plan also includes strategies to enhance the resilience of the community through cultivating and supporting a resilient population, forward-looking stormwater management and infrastructure planning, 21st century electric grid updates, and supporting local food efforts.
How we will get there This CAP is built around six core areas: Materials and Waste, Energy, Land, Food, Water and Wastewater, and Transportation. Actions are aimed at both mitigating greenhouse gas emissions as well as enhancing resilience across each of these core areas. The majority of the City's emissions come from building energy use (85%), primarily from commercial (business, non-profits, government, and institutions) and industrial uses. Travel accounts for 12% of total community-wide emissions. To achieve the goals laid out in this plan, the City must implement ambitious actions, prioritizing those with the greatest impact, while ensuring all residents benefit equitably.
Actions identified in this plan that will substantially reduce greenhouse gas emissions include deep energy efficiency and clean energy initiatives for both commercial/industrial buildings as well as homes. Broadly, the actions that will have the greatest impact on emissions reductions include:
• Deep energy efficiency retrofits for nearly all buildings and facilities • Cleaning the generation of electricity in cooperation with the electric utility, Xcel Energy • Switching energy sources from fossil fuel use to clean electricity in both buildings and travel • Reducing the amount that people drive through mode shift opportunities like public transit, biking, and walking • Eliminating waste that enters a landfill or resource recovery facility • Sequestering carbon through accelerated tree plantings and sustainable land and agricultural practices
City of Northfield Draft Climate Action Plan 7 Full implementation of these actions would result in a 77% reduction in emissions by 2040, as highlighted in the graph below (figure 1). These reductions can be met with existing and commercially available technologies. The remaining 25% (primarily natural gas and transportation fuels), will need to be met through advanced strategies, particularly for heavy-duty vehicles and industrial processes.
Figure 1. Planned community-wide emissions reductions, including: historic emissions for 2015-2017. More details in Figure 15. Source: LHB, Inc. The actions are organized under four umbrella strategies to help guide implementation of the plan, including:
1. Expand Education and Engagement strategies for residents, businesses, industries, and tourists to increase and market sustainable, green projects 2. Incorporate emissions reductions, climate considerations, and resilience into Policy and Planning processes and decisions 3. Demonstrate climate leadership through Innovation and Demonstration of energy and sustainability projects 4. Maintain momentum and progress through continued Support of the Plan
City of Northfield Climate Action Plan 8 Resilience Climate change is already occurring, and Minnesotans are feeling the effects. In addition to mitigating the causes of climate change through emissions reductions, Northfield is also looking to become more resilient to the anticipated effects of climate change. Building community resilience to climate change involves addressing vulnerabilities and capitalizing on opportunities to strengthen community connections and assets. In a changing climate, resilience is exemplified by individuals or communities with systems in place to respond to unexpected events. Increasing community resilience to climate change involves an analysis of people, built infrastructure, and natural systems. This plan includes strategies to improve the resilience of the community by 1) enhancing population resilience, 2) ensuring long-term viability, reliability, and integrity of built infrastructure, and 3) protecting and enhancing natural infrastructure by supporting access to local food, increasing urban tree canopy, and adding more green infrastructure elements to City projects, planning, and events.
Plan Implementation Successful implementation of the CAP requires establishing roles (both internally and externally) to lead efforts, identifying funding, and determining priorities to help launch the plan and ensure it is on track. This includes full integration of the CAP into City operations, functions, and services; commitment and actions on behalf of residents and the business community; and a robust volunteer network to help shape and drive action to benefit everyone in the community. Implementation of the plan is centered around specific three-year action items that focus on the targets included in the graphic below.
• Assessment of City assets completed and a plan in place to reduce emissions from city operations • City eet assessment completed and purchasing policy updated • Commitment from large energy users to meet city climate goals • Additional public EV infrastructure available in the community • Building benchmarking program established
• 1 MW of additional renewable energy • 10 miles of additional bike and pedstrian • 8% of businesses and 19% of residences infrastructure (trails, paths, sidewalks) have made deep energy e ciency • Community-wide mobility-sharing improvements program in place • PiE Jump Start goals have been achieved
• Urban forestry program established that • Zero-waste plan developed and adopted; includes robust tree planting, soil including a plan for a waste processing restoration, and other sustainable practices facility • Resilience is incorporated into city • Zero-waste packaging ordinance adopted planning and budget processes • Farm to school program in place
City of Northfield Climate Action Plan 9 Introduction
Northfield is a rural community with agricultural and historical characteristics, approximately one hour south of the Twin Cities. At the heart of the City are two colleges, St. Olaf and Carleton, that are essential to the identity of the community. Northfield is home to 20,000 residents of various economic and cultural backgrounds, all contributing to the richness, creativity, and vibrancy of the community. Northfield has been a leader among cities working toward a more sustainable future. The energy and passion of Northfield residents have contributed to many of the efforts to boost local renewable energy production, improve mobility options, recover food waste, and support the local farming community. The threat of climate change puts a more urgent focus on these sustainability efforts and makes it clear that without concrete goals and a plan to achieve them, Northfield will not be able to reduce its emissions at the pace needed to help reverse the course of climate change.
Northfield residents understand it is imperative to address climate change. Climate action has been limited for too long and the time has come to bend the trajectory of emissions downward to achieve 100% carbon-free electricity by 2030 and to be carbon-free community-wide by 2040. In a special report released as a follow up to the Paris Climate Agreement, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change warned the global community that we must reduce emissions 45% from 2010 levels by 2030 in order to limit warming to 1.5°C (2.7°F) and avoid some of the worst consequences of climate change.1,2 In Minnesota, we are already seeing the effects of climate change in the form of heavy precipitation events and more extreme temperatures. It is evident that Minnesota communities must simultaneously look to mitigate emissions and adapt to a changing environment. Northfield is among the leading cities in the state to accelerate climate action, motivating others to join in a collective effort to reduce global emissions.
The Climate Action Plan (CAP) provides a comprehensive pathway for addressing climate change in the City of Northfield and in the surrounding communities of Dundas, Waterford, and other contiguous townships within the urban expansion area. The plan has identified priorities, strategies, and actions that will both mitigate the City’s contribution to climate change and prepare Northfield for unavoidable impacts. There is opportunity to improve the quality of life beyond reducing emissions. Many of the strategies outlined in this plan also have co-benefits that can positively impact the economic, physical, and environmental health of the community. Further, these strategies will be implemented in consideration of equity, elevating the resilience of the City’s most vulnerable to ensure a more prosperous future for all who live and work in Northfield.
Background This plan is the culmination of many years of action and leadership by Northfield residents. The Northfield Environmental Quality Commission (EQC) was established in the mid-1970s to advise the City on environmental quality, natural resources, and the implementation of environmental policy. In 2008, an energy task force was established to address the challenges of climate change and energy supply. Ultimately, the plan developed by that task force was not adopted but was nonetheless instrumental in catalyzing future efforts to combat climate change.3 1 Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, Summary for Policymakers of IPCC Special Report on Global Warming of 1.5C approved by governments, https://www.ipcc.ch/2018/10/08/summary-for- policymakers-of-ipcc-special-report-on-global-warming-of-1-5c-approved-by-governments/ (accessed June 2019). 2 Northfield Code1986, § 245:05(4) 3 City of Northfield, Energy Task Force Report Summary (2008), https://www.ci.northfield.mn.us/DocumentCenter/View/7201/2008-Northfield-Energy-Task-Force-Report-Summary
City of Northfield Draft Climate Action Plan 10 In 2010, Northfield joined the Minnesota GreenStep Cities (GSC) program, which provides a framework for cities to improve upon their sustainability goals. Northfield has achieved Step 3, which recognizes communities that have implemented several best practices and high-impact actions.4 In recent years the program added Steps 4 and 5, which can aid the City in tracking its progress toward fulfilling its climate and sustainability goals. In 2017, the City included “Climate Change Impacts” as a priority in its 2018-2020 strategic plan, which led to the City Council’s establishment of the Northfield Climate Action Plan Advisory Board (CAPAB).5 The CAPAB was tasked with leading and engaging the Northfield area community in responding strategically, rapidly, and responsibly to a changing climate by developing a Climate Action Plan (CAP).
The CAPAB led the development of this plan with widespread participation and input from citizens and community stakeholders during 2018 and 2019. The Board is made up of appointed citizens with a wide range of climate-related expertise. The CAPAB focused on six core areas with the greatest opportunities for impact: Materials and Waste, Energy, Land, Food, Water and Wastewater, and Transportation. CAPAB members led and coordinated subcommittees focused on each core area that met monthly throughout the process, generating ideas and content to be included in the CAP.
CAP Development & Community Engagement Process The development of the CAP took place in two phases. The first phase included gathering data and information for community-wide emissions, City operations emissions, and the resilience assessment. The community-wide GHG inventory involved collecting three years (2015 - 2017) of emissions data associated with the consumption of electricity and natural gas in commercial, industrial, and residential buildings, emissions from vehicle travel, and emissions from solid waste. The City operations emissions inventory (Appendix A) looked specifically at emissions associated with public buildings and facilities, streetlights and signals, City fleet vehicles, water distribution, and the treatment of wastewater. The information collected for these inventories was used to establish a baseline and determine a business-as-usual scenario that informs forecasted emissions. The Resilience Assessment (Appendix B) assessed how hazards associated with climate change are anticipated to impact Northfield and how well the City is prepared to adapt to these changes, informing the recommended strategies and actions to help improve the overall resilience of the community.
The second phase included public engagement and development of the CAP. This CAP was developed in parallel with the Xcel Energy Partners in Energy (PiE) Sustainable Energy for All Energy Subcommittee Report (Appendix C), which is incorporated into the related energy elements of this plan. The development process of the Energy Subcommittee Report complemented the efforts of the CAP development through facilitation of energy data-sharing and leveraging the information gathered in the community engagement process. In addition to the PiE process, the CAP included several opportunities for community engagement, soliciting feedback on resilience and mitigations strategies, and gaining insights into additional areas of concern for residents and businesses.
Prior to the first phase, the CAPAB and City staff worked with a survey expert and a City of Northfield student intern to develop a community-wide survey, available in English and Spanish.6 It was administered at 14 public events and paper copies were available at several locations throughout the City. The survey sought to understand community members' understanding and attitudes toward climate change, individual actions being taken to
4 Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, GreenStep Cities, https://greenstep.pca.state.mn.us/city-detail/12323?ctu_code=2395265 5 City of Northfield Strategic Plan (2018), https://www.ci.northfield.mn.us/DocumentCenter/View/5833/Northfield-Strategic-Plan-2018---2020?bidId= 6 https://www.ci.northfield.mn.us/DocumentCenter/View/7312/CAPAB-CAP-Community-Survey-Questions
City of Northfield Climate Action Plan 11 address climate change, priority areas and level of concern, and additional information requested. More than 1,000 people responded to the survey, and their input was incorporated both in the CAP’s framing and in the strategies (see Appendix D for a full survey report).
An educational event was held on February 28, 2019 to introduce community members to the CAP process, provide background on climate change, and set context around national initiatives to address climate change. Northfield’s Earth Day celebration took place on April 27, 2019, at which each topic area subcommittee tabled. At this tabling event, community members completed a dot voting exercise to identify priority areas for the subcommittees, sharing a total of 280 Dots (see Appendix E for results of the exercise).
Northfield City staff, CAPAB members, and Great Plains Institute selected five focus groups to discuss community concerns and explore additional strategies for inclusion in the CAP. These focus groups prioritized community members who would be most impacted by climate change, key stakeholders in implementing the plan, and those who had otherwise not been engaged in the planning process. These focus groups engaged high school students, college students from Carleton College and St. Olaf College, community groups working with and serving the Latinx community, Northfield business owners and representatives, and City of Northfield staff. These focus groups were facilitated and led by Great Plains Institute with assistance in recruitment and outreach provided by the City of Northfield, Carleton College Sustainability Office, Northfield Chamber of Commerce, and Northfield High School students. Each meeting varied in content, but all focused on describing the CAP process to date, presenting background data on emissions and resilience, and discussing concerns, opportunities, and ideas surrounding climate change and quality of life in Northfield. Findings from these focus group meetings were shared with CAPAB members and City staff and have been incorporated throughout the plan (see Appendix F for the focus group summary report).
The following Climate Action Plan is the result of tremendous effort by community members and City staff. It is intended to guide the City toward achieving its GHG reduction goals and improving the resilience of the community. The CAP is a living document that is to be revisited frequently to adjust to technological, political, and economic changes in order to help the City meet its targets as soon and effectively as possible.
Photo Credit: Great Plains Institute
City of Northfield Climate Action Plan 12 Northfield Emissions: Where are we today?
We use various forms of energy in our daily lives. Historically, most of our energy has come from the combustion of fossil fuels that include oil, coal, and natural gas. These fuels are used for the generation of electricity, space and water heating, industrial processes, and to run most vehicles. While there has been tremendous innovation and economic growth from the production of energy, it is overwhelmingly evident that the combustion of these
fuels has been at a great cost. Greenhouse gases (GHG) are emitted when fuel is burned for energy. GHGs, most commonly carbon dioxide (CO2), have heat trapping properties that absorb heat from the sun that is reflected off the Earth’s surface. Over the past 140 years, humans have come to rely on fossil fuels to meet our growing energy needs, causing the atmospheric concentration of GHGs to rise, trapping more heat and raising the global average temperature. As the temperature rises, we have begun to see the consequences of a changing climate. If left unchecked, climate change will dramatically alter life as we know it. Fortunately, there are viable forms of carbon-free energy-producing technologies that can meet our energy needs and improve our overall quality of life.
In response to climate change, Northfield residents have set goals to receive 100% carbon free electricity by 2030 and be carbon free by 2040. In order to prioritize actions, the City first completed a GHG inventory to measure where emissions are generated in the community. Measuring emissions helps to determine where the community can have the most impact by reducing energy consumption, increasing clean energy production, improving land use and agricultural practices, and changing behavior in ways that equitably impact all residents. A GHG inventory is an assessment of emissions that can be attributed to Northfield residences, businesses, and visitors. A GHG assessment has been completed for both community-wide emissions and City operations. Each of these inventories follow the U.S. GHG Protocols developed by ICLEI - Local Governments for Sustainability.
Using the U.S. GHG protocol, emissions sources are categorized into three Scopes. Scope 1 emissions are those that are emitted within the boundary of a community such as gas and diesel vehicles, the combustion of natural gas for space and water heating, and industrial processes. Scope 2 emissions refer to those that result from the generation of electricity that is usually produced elsewhere but consumed within a community. Scope 3 emissions capture the upstream and downstream emissions that result from the production, transportation, and disposal of goods. Because accurately capturing upstream and downstream emissions poses many accounting challenges, they are often excluded from community inventories. Apart from downstream waste emissions, Scope 3 is not included in Northfield’s City or community inventories. This plan does include actions that would reduce emissions from Scope 3 sources, like those from waste. Other sources of emissions that are important to consider but are not quantified in these inventories are those that result from land use, such as agricultural practices where GHGs are emitted from disturbed soil or fertilizer products. Accounting for those emissions are beyond the scope of this plan, however strategies that reduce emissions from those sources are included.
This following section summarizes the GHG inventories for the community and City operations for a three-year study period from 2015 to 2017, including a snapshot of current participation in energy efficiency and renewable energy programs, as well as local solar and wind energy systems.
City of Northfield Draft Climate Action Plan 13 Community-Wide Greenhouse Gas Emissions Community-wide GHG emissions were captured for the years 2015, 2016, and 2017. In 2017, the inventory shows that commercial and industrial emissions from electricity and natural gas contribute to the largest share of total emissions – about two-thirds of all community emissions (68%). This sector is followed by residential (17%), and travel (12%). Combined emissions from waste and wastewater comprise less than 3% of the City’s total emissions profile. It should be noted that emissions from waste include downstream emissions that result from methane released at landfill sites, not the emissions that went into producing materials and goods consumed in Northfield, which are significant. Figure 2 provides a breakdown of emissions by sector and energy type. Northfield 201 Community-wide Emissions (GHG)
1% 1% Residen�al Electricity
8% Commercial & Industrial Electricity 12%
Residen�al Natural Gas
Commercial & Industrial Natural Gas 3 %
33% Transporta�on
Waste 9% Wastewater Treatment
Figure 2. Community-wide greenhouse gas emissions for Northfield, Minnesota by sector. Each wedge represents a different sector and energy use category. Source: Xcel Energy (2017), Minnesota Department of Transportation (2017). Generated by Regional Indicators Initiative.
City of Northfield Climate Action Plan 14 Building Energy Emissions Building energy emissions include all GHG emissions that come from the consumption of electricity and natural gas used by residents, businesses, and industrial facilities. This includes energy used for space and water heating (typically natural gas), and electricity used for appliances, lighting, as well as some space and water heating. Natural gas is often used in industrial processes as well. Xcel Energy is the electric and natural gas provider for Northfield residents and businesses. Of the premises served, 88% are residential, 11% are commercial/industrial, and 1% are municipal.
In 2017, Northfield consumed 2.7 million MMBtu (million metric British thermal units) of energy, encompassing both electricity and natural gas. About two-thirds of Northfield’s 2017 building energy consumption is from natural gas (67%), and one-third from electricity (33%). The bulk of building energy consumption occurs from use of natural gas in commercial and industrial facilities, accounting for 52% of total building energy consumption.
In Northfield, building energy use represented the greatest share of emissions at 85% of the total in 2017. Emissions associated with building Building Energy Use by Type and Sector energy use are nearly evenly divided between natural gas (49%) and electricity (51%). The commercial/industrial sector emits 80% of total building emissions or 68% of community-wide emissions. There are three Residen�al Electric major energy users that, together, make up a substantial amount of the .0% commercial/industrial emissions. These include Carleton and St. Olaf Colleges and the Post Consumer Brands (formerly Malt-O-Meal) facility. Each of these entities has already taken significant strides to reduce emissions from their 2 .8% Commercial / electricity use through the purchase and generation of renewable energy and Industrial Electric will be critical partners to help the City achieve its GHG reduction goals. 2.3% Xcel Energy has set goals to reduce carbon emissions from its electricity Residen�al Natural generation by 80% by 2030 and 100% by 2050. As part of this CAP, the City Gas of Northfield set a goal to receive 100% of its electricity from carbon free sources by 2030. 1 .0% Commercial / Much of the City’s electricity goal will be supported by Xcel Energy’s efforts, Industrial Natural Gas helping to make it more achievable and allowing the City to focus on renewable energy that will provide additional co-benefits to the community through in-boundary installations and community solar garden subscriptions.
Because of Xcel Energy's carbon reduction goals that will help Northfield Figure 3. Building Energy Use by Type and Sector. Source: Xcel Energy Community Energy Reports (2017). Generated by Regional Indicators Initiative. address its electricity emissions reductions, the City will be able to focus its efforts on reducing emissions from natural gas through deep energy efficiency and innovative technologies.
City of Northfield Climate Action Plan 15 Renewable Energy and Conservation Community-wide building energy emissions are impacted by both energy conservation measures and the utilization of locally generated or purchased renewable energy. Participation in renewable energy and energy conservation programs is summarized in the Energy Subcommittee Report (Appendix C) and is incorporated below.
Energy Conservation Some Northfield residents and businesses currently participate in Xcel Energy’s energy conservation programs, saving 1.2% of electricity consumed and 0.7% of natural gas consumed between 2015 and 2017. In 2017, 813 total premises participated in Xcel Energy’s programs, including 11% of residential premises and almost 8% of commercial/industrial premises. By participating in energy conservation programs, consumers saved a total of 18,710 MMBtu. The most popular programs for residents include Saver’s Switch and rebates for heating and cooling equipment. For commercial/industrial customers, lighting, heating, and cooling efficiency rebates are the most utilized programs for saving energy. Another energy saving technology that has been utilized in Northfield is ground-source or air-source heat-pumps, which use thermal energy to heat and cool spaces, often in place of natural gas.
Photo Credit: Growing Up Healthy Photo Credit: Great Plains Institute
City of Northfield Climate Action Plan 16 On-site Renewable On-site renewable energy, sometimes referred to as “behind- the-meter,” includes solar panels and wind turbines installed on-site (either rooftop or ground-mount) to supply some or all of the electricity for a building or campus. In 2017, 76 residential and 5 commercial/industrial premises had solar panels on their home or facility with a total capacity of 554 kW. Three wind turbines — two at Carleton College and one at St. Olaf College — also generated power for each of those institutions totaling just over 6.7 million kWh each year.
Off-site Renewable Energy Off-site renewable energy subscriptions offer residents and business owners the opportunity to support renewable energy without installing any equipment. Two popular examples of utility-offered renewable power purchase programs include WindSource® and Renewable*Connect. Community solar garden subscriptions are also available to customers as part of an Xcel Energy program. In 2017, 613 Northfield residential customers purchased or subscribed to renewable energy, totaling more than 1.8 million kWh of electricity. Sixteen commercial/industrial premises purchased or subscribed to renewable energy for a total of 33.6 million kWh of electricity.
The graph at right (figure 4) shows the breakdown of renewable energy production and program participation by source for both residential and commercial as it compares to total electricity consumption. For residential consumers, 4.5% of all consumption is sourced through renewable energy; that number increases to 18.5% for commercial. Northfield was an early participant in Xcel Energy's community solar garden program. A 6.63 MW solar garden was commissioned near the community in 2018 and produces enough power for more than 1,000 homes.
Figure 4. Participation in renewable energy by sector. Source: Northfield Energy Data (2017)
City of Northfield Climate Action Plan 17 Transportation Emissions Of total community-wide GHG emissions, the transportation sector makes up 12%. Transportation emissions include all in-boundary emissions that come from mobile sources, like cars, trucks, and motorcycles. In-boundary emissions are determined based on the number of miles driven within the City boundary, the assumed breakdown of vehicle type (light vs. heavy duty), and the fuel efficiency of those vehicles. Through Regional Indicators Initiative data, vehicle miles traveled (VMT) and associated emissions have been recorded from 2006 through 2017 and are shown in Figure 5. VMT data comes from the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MNDOT), which collects on-road vehicle counts on an annual basis. Over this time period, VMT have grown steadily with a decline beginning in 2011 and rising again after 2013, likely due to the economic recession and relatively higher fuel prices at the time.
VMT Trends in Northfield 70,000,000
60,000,000
50,000,000 T M V 40,000,000 l a t o
T 30,000,000
20,000,000
10,000,000
- 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017
Figure 5. Total Vehicle Miles Traveled by year, 2006 - 2017. Source: Minnesota Department of Transportation. Generated by Regoinal Indicators Initiative.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau 5-year American Community Survey conducted in 2017, 52% of Northfield residents drove alone to work, nearly 11% carpooled, 8% biked or walked, and 32.6% of residents worked from home. The percent of residents who drive alone is relatively low compared to the state (78%). This may be reflected in the college-town characteristics of the community as many students and faculty are more likely to walk or bike to campus. Further, 32.6% of residents telecommute, which is relatively high compared to the state and may merit deeper analysis.
Utilization of mobility options – like walking, biking, or public transportation – is largely facilitated by availability of infrastructure and accommodating land use to support and encourage it. In Northfield, there are nearly 26 miles of combined bike and walking trails that cross the City. These trails, coupled with on-street routes for cyclists, offer many options for non-motorized travel. However, many of the trails have gaps and would benefit from better connectivity and protection. Currently, the primary transit option available to Northfield residents is through Hiawathaland Transit, operated by Three Rivers Community Action. Approximately 0.5% of residents reported using public transit through the American Community Survey. Photo Credit: Great Plains Institute
City of Northfield Climate Action Plan 18 In conversations with students and community organizations serving Latinx community members, people identified barriers to using the transit system, such as timing, frequency, route efficiency, and accessibility. Increasing the availability of and access to low- or no-carbon transportation options provides co-benefits that improve community-wide equity and health. Walking and biking offer health benefits by allowing people to incorporate exercise into their commute or recreation. Further, improved access to multiple mobility options allows all residents more choices to get to work, provides access to more employment opportunities, and facilitates involvement in community events.
For trips that must be made by a car, electric vehicles (EVs) are a cleaner alternative to internal combustion vehicles, both in terms of local air pollutants and GHG emissions. Of passenger vehicles in Northfield in 2016, 99.5% used gasoline.7 The growing availability of EV charging infrastructure supports increased adoption for electric vehicles. As of 2019, there are three public Level 2, dual-head electric vehicle charging stations in Northfield, one located at Carleton College, one at St. Olaf College, and one on Water Street and 5th Street. There are 32 registered electric vehicle owners in the City of Northfield and the surrounding area.8 Although most charging is done at home, adding EV charging stations in more public spaces will help to enable EV adoption beyond Northfield. There may also be an opportunity to create a network of shared electric vehicles within the community and enable more people to have access to a clean vehicle without owning one.
Land Use Emissions Although not included in the community-wide inventory, emissions from how land is used and maintained is an important consideration for the Northfield community. The development patterns of land can dictate transportation and building density, creating barriers and opportunities for where people live and how they travel. More compact land use with adequate options for non-motorized travel or transit can help reduce emissions from transportation. Conversely, low-density land use patterns that are designed for the movement of vehicles will create an auto-centric community that results in higher emissions. GHGs can also be stored or emitted depending on specific land use and cover. Land cover is the physical material on Earth’s surface, like trees, grass, pavement, or buildings. Undeveloped land, natural areas, and wetlands all provide important carbon benefits by capturing and storing the gas in plant matter and soils. Disturbing natural areas through land conversion (e.g., development, agricultural practices) releases the stored carbon, resulting in GHG emissions.
In Northfield, much of the natural land cover has been converted for development or agricultural use. Emissions that come from developed land are captured in Scope 1 and Scope 2 building and transportation emissions. Emissions that can be attributed to agricultural practices in Northfield are not included in this plan. Fertilizer application, soil tillage, and farm animals significantly contribute to global emissions (9% of U.S. emissions).9 By modifying practices, local farmers can not only reduce emissions associated with agriculture but can also provide carbon benefits to the community. For example, conservation tillage and grazing can reduce emissions and provide opportunities for additional sequestration.
As part of this plan, the City should continue to consider its approach to land use and land cover change as it pertains to emissions – particularly with respect to growth and urban boundary expansion opportunities to store and sequester carbon through wetlands and soil, as well as goals outlined to ensure preservation of agricultural and rural character. Further, the City can look to its natural areas and underutilized spaces to store additional carbon through tree planting and converting turf to native plantings.
7 Department of Energy State and Local Energy data (2016), https://www.eere.energy.gov/sled/#/, (Accessed June 2019). 8 Minnesota Department of Motor Vehicles, Statewide Vehicle Registration Data (2017). 9 Environmental Protection Agency, sources of Greenhouse Gas Emissions, https://www.epa.gov/ghgemissions/sources-greenhouse-gas-emissions
City of Northfield Climate Action Plan 19 Material Waste and Food Emissions Municipal solid waste data is collected by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency at the county scale. Rice and Dakota Counties' per capita waste rates were used to estimate City-wide usage. Emissions from solid waste are based on the management method used by the local haulers and account for 2% of total community-wide emissions. In Northfield, the City contracts with Dick’s Sanitation Services for single-hauler waste pick-up service for both garbage and recycling. Each year, more than 26,000 tons of solid waste are disposed of in Northfield (Table 1). Roughly half of the waste is recycled and most of the remainder of the non-recycled waste is sent to a landfill, with a small percentage going to a resource recovery (waste to energy) facility. Emissions are calculated based on the volume and destination of the solid waste. Most emissions (95%) from Northfield solid waste come from waste that is landfilled. Organic materials, such as food waste, that are sent to a landfill break down and decompose over time, releasing methane, a powerful greenhouse gas. This methane could be captured and used either as compressed natural gas for heavy-duty vehicles or as renewable natural gas that is refined and added to an existing natural gas pipeline. In addition to capture, there is opportunity to reduce future methane by preventing organic material from entering the landfill. Breakdown of waste disposal in Northfield, 2015 to 2017 Northfield currently offers organics composting opportunities for all food products through designated drop-off sites and through a curbside pick- Disposal Year 2015 2016 2017 up service. The drop-off compost sites are operated through the City Tons of solid waste 26,361 27,891 27,545 waste contractors and are open seasonally (April through October) at the % Recycled 54% 52% 46% Northfield Street Shop and near Sechler Park. Community members may % Landfilled 44% 46% 52% also sign up with Northfield Curbside Compost, a local Northfield business offering weekly curbside compost pick-up for a monthly or yearly fee. It % Resource recovery 1% 2% 2% is important to address food waste for many reasons. According to the % Composted <1% <1% <1% Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, in 2013, 31% of all waste in Minnesota Tonnes of GHG 3,437 3,374 3,737 was organic material (Figure 6). Table 1. Total solid waste and waste processing proportions from 2015-2017. Source: Generated by Regional Indicators Initiative, from Rice and Dakota County data.
Figure 6. Composition of municipal solid waste in Minnesota in 2000 and 2013. Source: Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, “Minnesota MSW Composition Study,” 2013.
City of Northfield Climate Action Plan 20 A large volume of waste could be removed from the waste stream through better management of the food system. Reducing organic waste can be done by 1) purchasing more intentionally to avoid disposing of extra, unconsumed food, 2) making food available to those who may struggle with food insecurity, such as through the St. Olaf College Food Recovery Network and Carleton College Food Recovery Network,10, 11 and 3) composting what remains.
While not included in this GHG inventory, an additional consideration for food-related emissions is the distance the food travels from source to table. Because Northfield is situated near agricultural land producers, it has an opportunity to better connect with local growers to increase the amount of food that is supplied locally. There are also opportunities to increase the amount of food grown within the City limits at community gardens and schools, such as the Greenvale Park Community Garden. Expanding local food access and production in Northfield and surrounding areas will support residents of all economic backgrounds and businesses in receiving a wide variety of healthy, affordable, and sustainable food choices. In 2014, the Carleton Food In addition to food waste, Northfield residents aim to divert waste from the landfill. The Environmental Recovery network was founded Protection Agency (EPA) developed a waste hierarchy to help visualize best management practices to by a student in collaboration reduce the amount of waste that is generated by households, industry, and all levels of government.12 with the Center for Community The hierarchy prioritizes prevention and reuse of goods. By limiting purchases, particularly for and Civic Engagement and Bon single-use items, people and businesses can reduce the amount of waste that is thrown away. For Appetit. The network redirects items that have reached limitation of use, recycling and composting are the next best uses for those food from the waste stream to items. Finally, for items that must be disposed of, resource recovery is recommended, while landfills those who could most benefit should be avoided. There may be additional economic and environmental benefits available through from it. the establishment of a waste processing facilities, such as composting. Such a facility could provide Six days a week, the Network economic benefits through an increased tax base and/or through revenue generation from sales. It transports uneaten food from would also provide additional environmental benefits such as improving soil health, cutting landfill the dining halls to community emissions, and reducing stormwater runoff. partners who help people experiencing food insecurity. Achieving a low or no-waste community is a critical Students also provide retail component to eliminating emissions from waste. It recovery, redirecting uneaten will take a coordinated effort from all areas of the food from retailers to the community — residential, commercial, institutional, Northfield Food Shelf. and governments — to realize this outcome. In 2018, Carleton student volunteers collected over 10,000 10 St. Olaf Food Recovery Network, https://www.foodrecoverynetwork.org/chapters-1#St.olafcollege 11 Carleton College Food Recovery Network. https://apps.carleton.edu/ccce/programs/food-recovery-network/ pounds of food from the dining 12 United States EPA, Waste Management Hierarchy, https://www.epa.gov/smm/sustainable-materials-management-non-hazardous- halls and over 100,000 pounds materials- and-waste-management-hierarchy from retailers for the food shelf.
City of Northfield Climate Action Plan 21 City Operations GHG Emissions Inventory City operations generate emissions associated with municipal buildings and Greenhouse Gas Emissions, 2015 - 2017 (tonnes) facilities, streetlights, potable water processing, liquid fuels from the City Category 2015 2016 2017 Change fleet, and wastewater treatment. In 2019, a City operations greenhouse gas (GHG) assessment was completed for the years 2015, 2016, and 2017 Streetlights and Signals 377.3 344.2 346.2 -8.2% to support Northfield in its efforts to better understand the distribution of Vehicles 383.0 445.8 380.6 -0.6% emissions and strategies for emission reductions. The complete study is Potable water 407.8 362.6 353.8 -13.2% included in Appendix A. Park Facilities 473.7 443.8 418.2 -11.7% Emissions from City operations make up less than 2% of the community- Buildings 524.4 471.5 454.9 -13.2% wide total emissions. Table 2 and Figure 7 highlight the sources and changes Wastewater Treatment 2,275.3 2,232.0 1,997.6 -12.2% in City operations emissions from 2015 to 2017. Wastewater treatment was Total 4,441.5 4,299.9 3,951.3 -11.0% the largest contributor of total emissions during this period, accounting for Table 2. Breakdown of City operations greenhouse gas emissions by type from 2015 to 2017. 51% of total City operations emissions in 2017. Buildings, park facilities, Source: Orange Environmental LLC, "City of Northfield Greenhouse Gas Assessment," 2019. potable water, liquid fuels, and streetlights and signals each accounted for 8-12% of the total City operations emissions. Emissions from waste made up the smallest contribution with 1% of the total. Total emissions across all areas of City operations were reduced by 11% over the three-year study period. City Opera�ons Greenhouse Gas Emissions by Type
8. % The reduction in total GHG emissions from 2015 to 2017 can be primarily Streetlights and Signals attributed to Xcel Energy’s improved electricity emissions factor, a measure that accounts for the GHGs emitted during the generation of the electricity. 8.9% Potable water The improved electricity emissions factor accounted for just over half (52%) of the 11% reduction in Northfield’s City operations GHG emissions over the same period. Emissions reductions from the wastewater treatment 9. % Vehicles plant accounted for an additional 30% of the total reduction between 0. % 2015 to 2017. While the 11% reduction in emissions from 2015 to 2017 is Park Facili�es substantial, there is still significant opportunity for the City to further reduce 10. % its emissions. The City recently subscribed to 1.9 MW of community solar Buildings gardens for the electricity use of several buildings, streetlights, and water wells. The following summarizes emissions from each of the categories 11. % Wastewater Treatment highlighted in the assessment.
Figure 7. Proportion of Northfield City operations greenhouse gas emissions by type from 2015 - 2017. Source: Orange Environmental LLC, "Northfield Greenhouse Gas Assessment," 2019.
City of Northfield Climate Action Plan 22 Streetlights and Traffic Signals In 2017, streetlights and traffic signals accounted for 9% of City operations Greenhouse Gas Emissions, 2015 - 2017 (tonnes) emissions. Between 2015 and 2017, emissions associated with streetlights and Fuel (in gallons) 2015 2016 2017 Change signals in Northfield decreased by 8%. This improvement was largely driven by Xcel Diesel 5,157 11,476 11,407 121% Energy’s electricity emissions factor improvement. The City owns about half of Gasoline 37,630 37,431 30,082 -20% the streetlights in the community. Those owned by Xcel Energy have largely been replaced with LED bulbs; City-owned lights are being replaced with LED as current Total Liquid Fuel 42,787 48,907 41,489 -3% lights reach the end of their useful life. Consumption Table 3. City operations liquid fuel consumption from 2015 to 2017. Source: Orange Environmental LLC, "City of Northfield Greenhouse Gas Assessment," 2019. Liquid Fuels In 2017, vehicle emissions represented 9.7% of total City operations emissions. Between 2015 and 2017, emissions associated with the City’s vehicle fleet decreased by 0.6% (the equivalent of 2.4 tonnes CO2e). During this period, diesel consumption increased by 121% over 2015 levels, though gasoline consumption declined by 20% — the result was a 16% increase in emissions from liquid fuels between 2015 and 2017. Table 3 provides a breakdown of gallons of fuels consumed by type during the years assessed.
Park Facilities There are 25 park facilities (of a total 37) included in the City operations emissions inventory. In 2017, park facilities were responsible for 10.7% of total City operations emissions. Total emissions from park facilities decreased 11.7% between 2015 and 2017, the equivalent of 55 tonnes CO2e. During that period, electricity consumption in park facilities increased by 1%, but natural gas consumption decreased by 28%.
Photo Credit: Great Plains Institute
City of Northfield Climate Action Plan 23 City Buildings City buildings were responsible for 11.6% of all City operations emissions in 2017. Emissions from all buildings were reduced 13.2% from 2015 to 2017. Despite a reduction in aggregate emissions from 2015-2017, building electricity consumption increased by 4%, while natural gas consumption decreased by 26%. After aggregate park facilities, City Hall is the largest single City building emitter, though between 2015 and 2017 the building experienced a 35% reduction in emissions. The Northfield Public Library saw the greatest increase between 2015 and 2017 (60% electricity and 47% natural gas), due to expansion.
Potable Water In 2017, potable water represented 8.9% of emissions from City operations. Emissions from potable water are attributed to the electricity used to pump and distribute the water. Between 2015 and 2017, emissions associated with potable water decreased by 13.2%. Reductions came both from improved efficiency and cleaner generation mix.
Wastewater Emissions from the treatment of wastewater occur from the electricity used to transport water to treatment facilities and treatment operations, as well as the gases that are produced from the breakdown of organic material. Together, water pumping, distribution, and wastewater treatment account for about 1% of Northfield’s total community-wide GHG emissions and 50% of total City operations emissions. The greatest portion of emissions for the treatment of water and wastewater come from electricity: 334 tonnes for potable water and 1,400 tonnes for the treatment of wastewater each year.
Wastewater treatment facilities also use a significant amount of natural gas, resulting in 411 tonnes of CO2 emitted annually.
In addition to City of Northfield wastewater, the treatment plant also processes wastewater from Carleton College and the City of Dundas, which draw from their own wells and account for approximately 7% of the total amounts treated. Volumes from both sources increased from 2015-2017, with 2017 levels 20% higher than 2015. On a per-capita basis, wastewater associated with the City was 21% higher in 2017 than in 2015. The 34% increase in electrical efficiency experienced between 2015 and 2017 had an impact of 62% of the total energy consumption in the facility (in 2017), resulting in an overall increase in efficiency of 26% despite the increase in amount of wastewater treatment.
City of Northfield Climate Action Plan 24 Emissions Reduction Targets and Plan Impact The City of Northfield has set a goal to achieve carbon-free electricity by 2030 and to be carbon-free community-wide by 2040. Achieving these goals will require aggressive emissions reductions in every sector, with most of the savings achieved through strategies associated with the energy used in buildings. Figure 8 shows planned carbon reductions between now and 2040, broken out by strategy. The strategies and actions outlined in this Climate Action Plan contribute to meeting these reduction rates in the near-term, while additional innovation and policy-level action will be required to achieve the long-term reductions. The planned emissions reductions are based on a business-as-usual (BAU) scenario that considers population and job growth for the community. The BAU uses growth projections based on Dakota and Rice Counties' anticipated employment and population growth, which were downscaled to Northfield based on their relative percentage of the population.
Figure 8. Planned community-wide emissions reductions, including: historic emissions for 2015-2017, a business-as-usual projection through 2040 (top gray line), Northfield’s goal (dotted gray line), and the estimated impact of reduction strategies (colored ‘wedges’) that close the gap between the business-as-usual and the goal. The two orange-shaded wedges represent building energy efficiency strategies, the three teal-shaded wedges represent decarbonizing building energy through an increase in renewable energy sources, and the green and purple wedges represent travel and waste emissions strategies, respectively. Source: LHB, Inc.
City of Northfield Climate Action Plan 25 Combined, these strategies are estimated to achieve a 77% reduction in total GHG emissions from business-as-usual in 2040, with:
• A 26% reduction in overall emissions through commercial and industrial building efficiency, such as net-zero energy new construction and energy efficiency retrofits • A 4% reduction in overall emissions through residential building efficiency, such as net-zero energy new construction and energy efficiency retrofits • A 23% reduction in overall emissions through Xcel’s changing electric grid mix • A 7% reduction in overall emissions through community-supported renewable energy • An 8% reduction in overall emissions through fuel switching from natural gas to electricity in homes and businesses • A 6% reduction in overall emissions through travel strategies such as mode shift and electric vehicles • A 2% reduction in overall emissions through strategies that eliminate waste emissions by 2030
A description of each strategy and the participation rates used to estimate the community-wide emissions reductions are included in Table 4, on the following pages. REMAINING EMISSIONS IN 2040
The grey-shaded wedges represent the remaining 23% gap to the goal that will need to Residen�al Natural Gas be addressed through advanced strategies in the future. Of the remaining emissions, 13% 63% is from natural gas used in commercial buildings and industrial processes, 13% is from natural gas used in residential buildings, and 24% is from vehicle travel (Figure 9). Several initiatives described in this plan begin to address these remaining emissions through strategies, such as exploring the potential for thermal grids and sequestering Vehicle Travel carbon through urban forests. 24% Commercial/Industrial Note that this analysis only addresses GHGs that are either emitted within the boundary Natural Gas of the City (Scope 1) or are emitted indirectly through the consumption of electricity or 63% other energy sources (Scope 2). While these emissions can be most directly impacted by Northfield’s residents and businesses, they exclude other sources that can also be Figure 9. With a projected 75% emissions reduction in 2040; this graph shows the influenced by community members, such as travel by residents and employees outside City breakdown of the remaining 25% that will need to be addressed through advanced boundaries and emissions from the production and distribution of food and other products strategies. Source: LHB, Inc. (Scope 3). These make up a substantial amount of global emissions and – though not quantified – strategies to reduce these emissions are included throughout this plan.
City of Northfield Climate Action Plan 26 The table below highlights the forecasted participation rates across different carbon reducing strategies. The participation rates are what will be required to achieve the emissions reductions illustrated in the wedge diagram (Figure 8), resulting in a 75% decrease in emissions by 2040 from Business-As-Usual.
Forecasted Participations Rates Commercial/ Industrial Efficiency 2020 2030 2040 Energy Code Percentage of new commercial/industrial building area (in the specified year) that 100% 100% 100% Enforcement complies with the Minnesota Energy Code Net-Zero Energy Percentage of new commercial/industrial building area (in the specified year) that 5% 100% 100% Buildings produces as much energy on-site as it uses Energy Efficient Percentage of businesses that have participated in energy efficiency programs for their 8% 24% 40% Retrofits existing buildings by the specified year Residential Efficiency 2020 2030 2040 Energy Code Percentage of new residential building area (in the specified year) that complies with the 100% 100% 100% Enforcement Minnesota Energy Code Net-Zero Energy Percentage of new residential building area (in the specified year) that produces as much 5% 20% 50% Buildings energy on-site as it uses Energy Efficient Percentage of existing homes that have participated in energy efficiency programs by the 19% 50% 65% Retrofits specified year Electric Grid Mix 2020 2030 2040 Xcel Planned Emissions Percentage reduction in CO2e emissions per kWh of electricity from baseline year 5% 73% 79% Reduction Xcel Carbon-Free Percentage of Xcel’s total electricity generation that comes from carbon-free sources in 60% 75% 84% Percentage the specified year Renewable Energy 2020 2030 2040 On-Site Renewable Percentage of total community electricity use met by on-site renewable electricity 5% 10% 20% Electricity generation in the specified year Percentage of commercial/industrial electricity use met through participation in Green Power Purchase renewable energy purchasing programs (e.g. Xcel’s Renewable*Connect) in the specified 10% 15% 7% (Business) year Green Power Purchase Percentage of residential electricity use met through participation in renewable energy 10% 15% 9% (Residential) purchasing programs (e.g. Xcel’s Renewable*Connect) in the specified year
City of Northfield Climate Action Plan 27 Fuel Switching13 2020 2030 2040 Percentage of commercial buildings served by natural gas for space and water Business Electrification 0% 15% 64% heating that have switched to electricity by the specified year Residential Percentage of homes served by natural gas for space and water heating that 0% 15% 61% Electrification have switched to electricity by the specified year Travel 2020 2030 2040 Percentage reduction from baseline vehicle miles traveled due to increased Mode Shift 2% 7% 20% walking, biking, rolling, transit ridership, ride-sharing, and trip efficiency Electric Passenger Percentage of passenger vehicles that drive within City boundaries that are 4% 28% 56% Vehicles electric by the specified year Percentage of light trucks that drive within City boundaries that are electric by Electric Light Trucks 0% 10% 25% the specified year Percentage of heavy trucks that drive within City boundaries that are electric Electric Heavy Trucks 0% 14% 32% by the specified year Waste 2020 2030 2040 Percentage reduction in emissions from the management of municipal solid Zero-Waste 33% 100% 100% waste by the specified year Remaining Emissions With all strategies deployed, the City will reduce its emissions 75% by 2040. The remaining emissions will result from transportation fuels and natural gas used in buildings and industrial processes. Eliminating or offsetting these emissions will Advanced Strategies require advanced strategies that may include, but are not limited to, thermal technologies (e.g., district heating, ground- source or air-source heat-pumps), renewable natural gas, other bio-based solutions, and emerging technologies. Table 4. Forecasted participation rates in strategies for emission reduction. Source: LHB, Inc.
13 Electrification rates were derived from the “High Electrification” scenario used in the energy modeling analysis for Xcel Energy’s Upper Midwest Integrated Resource Plan 2020-2034.
City of Northfield Climate Action Plan 28 Priorities, Strategies, and Actions for Climate Mitigation
Meeting the carbon reduction goals established in this plan will require aggressive and collaborative effort on behalf of the City and its residents, businesses, and non-profits. Over the next 18 months, the City will also implement an Energy Action Plan put forth by the Energy Subcommittee, which will help launch many of the actions included in this plan. While the 18-month Energy Action Plan is a good starting point to reduce emissions, it will not be enough to achieve the reductions needed to meet the City’s 2030 and 2040 goals. The following section lays out priorities, strategies, and actions to achieve those goals. The CAP is structured first by four over-arching priorities: Education and Engagement, Policy and Planning, Innovation and Demonstration, and Supporting the Plan. Each priority area has multiple strategies with an inventory of specific actions the City can choose to employ.
CO CO CO CO CO Under each strategy, the relative carbon impact is denoted by: 2 The2 CO22 marker2 is 2used on a scale where 1 is the lowest impact and 5 represents the greatest.
Education and Engagement Education and engagement are critical first steps to support the remaining strategies and actions in the plan. The strategies and actions in this section seek to actively engage Northfield residents, businesses, and institutions in the implementation of energy conservation measures and renewable energy options to reduce their operating costs, energy consumption, and carbon emissions. Strategies in this category are focused on easy access to information, knowledge-sharing pathways, and outreach efforts that bring solutions to consumers.
Impact on Emissions: Education and Engagement strategies and actions will have relatively low direct impact on emissions reductions but are nonetheless critical in supporting and catalyzing more impactful strategies and actions.
Desired Outcome: The primary outcomes for this priority area are to increase visibility of Climate Action Plan and climate- and energy-related events and maintain community support for climate action. Community members who are actively engaged and knowledgeable about issues and available resources are more likely to act. The success of this plan depends on an informed and engaged community.
EE – 1 Climate Information Center: One-Stop Shop Description: Create a One-Stop Shop on the City’s website that serves as a climate information center and provides information related to actions, events, metrics, and includes a dashboard to demonstrate progress. This information will be easily accessible and updated regularly by City staff to ensure the most current information is available. Recommended Actions General GHG Impact EE 1.1 Use the One-Stop Shop to post climate action metrics to demonstrate progress to public GSC best CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2 practice 24 EE 1.2 Regularly update and maintain content of the One-Stop Shop; ensure that this responsibility delegated CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2 to a specific City staff person GSC best practice 24
City of Northfield Draft Climate Action Plan 29 EE 1.3 House informational resources to help businesses and residents make informed decisions around reducing GHG emissions GSC best practice 24 CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2 • Ensure material is available in Spanish and/or that translating options are available EE 1.4 Keep residents and businesses updated about workshops and events through various communication CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2 channels GSC best practice 24 EE 1.5 Host workshops and utilize City communication channels to share the climate mitigation benefits of CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2 natural resources such as trees, healthy soil, and natural vegetation.
EE – 2 Sustainable Tourism and Marketing Description: This strategy focuses on outward engagement by marketing Northfield’s energy conservation and renewable energy projects and programs in a way that attracts and retains tourists, residents, and businesses. This strategy takes advantage of existing innovations, such as the college wind turbines, community solar gardens, and community sponsored agriculture, while also envisioning future attractions such as net zero energy buildings and green developments. Recommended Actions General GHG Impact EE 2.1 Work with the Chamber of Commerce to incorporate local energy initiatives into Northfield’s tourism CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2 marketing materials GSC best practice 25
EE 2.2 Create a “sustainability tour” of local energy projects GSC best practice 25 CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2 EE 2.3 Recruit sustainability, waste processing (recycling and composting), and energy-focused businesses to existing Northfield spaces and/or a future green business park or industrial development GSC best CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2 practice 25 EE 2.4 Post highly visible energy information resources throughout the community highlighting clean energy CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2 projects and tips to cultivate an energy-aware culture GSC best practice 25
Photo Credit: Great Plains Institute
City of Northfield Climate Action Plan 30 EE – 3 Small Consumer Energy Engagement Description: Give households, small institutions, and small businesses easy access to energy education, energy conservation, and renewable energy programs that are directly applicable to their energy needs. Residents, small institutions, and small businesses represent the highest number of premises in the Northfield, so broad and accessible outreach strategies will be the primary focus for this group. The City should ensure that information will be accessible to all residents, regardless of age, income, or language. Recommended Actions General GHG Impact
EE 3.1 Implement Xcel Energy Partners in Energy “18-month Energy Action Plan” for residential consumers CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2 GSC best practice 2 EE 3.2 Develop and distribute education and outreach tools that provide local builders and building owners with information on energy efficiency resources such as Xcel Energy’s Efficient New Home CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2 Construction, the US Department of Energy Net Zero Homes certification, or similar programs GSC best practice 2 Host workshops focused on home energy efficiency and clean energy opportunities that include case EE 3.3 CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2 studies and success stories, connecting participants with actionable resources GSC best practice 2 EE 3.4 Coordinate with community organizations to provide workshops in Spanish that are in accessible to CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2 Latinx residents and address housing concerns Use successes and lessons learned from 18-month Energy Action Plan to continue engagement beyond EE 3.5 CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2 the PiE time frame EE 3.6 Educate residents and small businesses about the benefits of replacing heating equipment with air- CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2 source heat-pumps or other efficient electric heating options GSC best practice 2 EE 3.7 Promote opportunities for residents and small businesses to replace natural gas appliances with CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2 electric alternatives; partner with Xcel to offer thermal storage opportunities GSC best practice 2
EE 3.8 Engage youth in outreach and engagement efforts CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2
Photo Credit: Great Plains Institute
City of Northfield Climate Action Plan 31 EE – 4 Large Consumer Energy Engagement Description: Engage Northfield’s top energy consumers in efforts to achieve community-wide energy reduction targets and encourage them to share or develop their own in-house energy or carbon reduction plans and targets. These consumers use the largest percentage of energy and therefore can implement the highest impact energy reduction and renewable energy projects. Recommended Actions General GHG Impact Implement Xcel Energy Partners in Energy “18-month Energy Action Plan” for large and small EE 4.1 CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2 commercial consumers GSC best practice 2 EE 4.2 Build a stakeholder coalition group among large users to identify shared goals and potential CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2 coordinated actions GSC best practice 2 EE 4.3 Develop and distribute education and outreach tools that provide local builders and building owners with information on energy efficiency resources such as Xcel Energy’s Energy Efficient Buildings and CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2 Energy Design Assistance (EDA) evaluations, or similar programs
EE 4.4 Partner with the public schools to create energy educational materials tied to real-world, local projects CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2
EE – 5 Travel Engagement Description: There are increasingly more options available for travel within and outside a community. Often, people rely on travel modes that are most convenient and those they find most familiar. Education around travel helps people to see the different choices that are available to them whether it’s by foot, bike or rolling, transit, or shifting to an electric vehicle. Making the decision easier for an individual will enable people to make cleaner and healthier choices. Recommended Actions General GHG Impact EE 5.1 Host workshops to provide opportunities for interested parties to learn about actions they can take: • Using and improving the Hiawatha Land transit system • Walking, biking, rolling (e.g., scooters), including plans for future trails and street designs CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2 • Switching to an electric vehicle through ride and drive events • Emerging technologies or programs, like car-share programs • Time of day pricing and charging options available from Xcel Energy for electric vehicles EE 5.2 Host ride and drive events where EV owners lend their vehicles for others to experience, or in CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2 cooperation with local dealerships
EE 5.3 Include information about travel options on the One-Stop-Shop site CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2
EE 5.4 Provide information about the benefits of electric vehicles at public charging stations CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2
City of Northfield Climate Action Plan 32 Photo Credit: Carleton College Carleton Sustainability Team EE – 6 Materials and Waste Reduction Description: While the City does not currently have a policy for zero waste, it is both critical to achieve as part of this plan and it is important to note the impact on upstream emissions. Zero waste requires that consumed materials do not impact land, water, or air that threaten the environment or human health. This means avoiding disposing of materials in landfills or resource recovery facilities. For the purpose of this plan, GHGs result from methane emissions at landfills and emissions from the resource recovery facility (i.e., waste to energy). If all household and business organic material (food, spoiled paper products, etc.) were to be composted rather than landfilled, most future emissions from landfilled waste would be avoided. While it is important to achieve maximum reuse, recycling, and compost rates, there will still be waste materials that will be challenging to eliminate from resource recovery or landfills without major changes in production of consumables. Setting a goal to be zero waste by 2030 helps to accommodate some of the structural challenges. Removing organic material from the waste stream and increasing recycling rates can be accomplished much sooner. This effort will require a massive education campaign that can be done through a series of dedicated outreach campaigns and workshops, providing community members with the tools and information needed to implement best waste management practices. Recommended Actions General GHG Impact EE 6.1 Host workshops to provide opportunities for interested parties to learn about actions they can take related to: Waste reduction strategies, reducing and managing food waste, composting best practices, CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2 and recycling best practices GSC best practice 22 EE 6.2 Develop guidelines to reduce the amount of construction and demolition waste that goes to the CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2 landfill GSC best practice 22 EE 6.3 Conduct a campaign to reduce contamination of recycling and composting to ensure higher quality end products GSC best practice 22 CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2
EE 6.4 Engage businesses in a zero-waste certification program; promote efforts and success CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2
EE 6.5 Require that public events are zero-waste and use events as educational opportunities CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2
City of Northfield Climate Action Plan 33 EE – 7 Expanding Local Food Access Description: Increasing food access, production, and security in Northfield and surrounding communities to provide all residents — no matter their economic background — and businesses with a wide variety of healthy, affordable, and sustainable food choices will help improve local resilience while supporting local farms, community gardens, grocers, and restaurants. Recommended Actions General GHG Impact
EE 7.1 Utilize the food map created by St. Olaf students to help inform residents about where they can get CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2 local food; post on the One-Stop-Shop site EE 7.2 Provide educational materials to residents about growing food in their yards, including food-bearing CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2 trees, vegetable gardens, and fruit EE 7.3 Partner with schools to create afterschool programming and curriculum that includes growing your CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2 own food
Photo Credit: Growing Up Healthy
City of Northfield Climate Action Plan 34 Policy and Planning Policy and Planning strategies include actions that are supported by City rules and procedures. Many policies and programs that are already in place can be built upon to implement climate-specific actions insofar as they align with the goals of this plan. Relevant policies and planning functions include but are not limited to: Complete Streets, Safe Routes to Schools, Land Development Code, and the Comprehensive Plan. In some instances, it will be necessary to create new policies to address some of the challenges where existing policies are insufficient to meet climate targets.
Impact on Emissions: Policies and planning have the potential to have the greatest impact on emissions. Those that are targeted toward large energy users will have the most impact.
Desired Outcome: To create predictability and transparency around climate policies in the community. By enacting these polices, the City will send clear signals to community members about expectations regarding reduction of GHG emissions.
PP – 1 Large Energy Users Description: Commercial and Industrial energy users represent the greatest share of emissions and therefore the greatest opportunity for reductions. Actions are aimed at addressing both buildings that already exist to maximize their efficiency and at buildings yet to be constructed as they have the potential to meet higher building energy standards. Recommended Actions General GHG Impact PP 1.1 For existing buildings, adopt a commercial building benchmarking ordinance for buildings larger than 15,000 square feet. There are 100 buildings at this size threshold, which is 2% of all buildings, but more than half of all building energy consumption GSC best practice 2 CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2 • Encourage ENERGY STAR certification for eligible facilities; require energy audit for low performing buildings PP 1.2 Currently, cities are not allowed to require stricter buildings standards than the state building code. However, the goals of this plan cannot be achieved if new buildings are not constructed to be net zero carbon by 2030. There have been efforts to allow cities to adopt a stretch code that would enable them to enforce higher energy standards. CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2 • Collaborate with other Minnesota cities to support legislation or state policy that would enable local jurisdictions to enforce stricter energy standards • Evaluate, plan, and prepare to adopt a stretch code if it becomes available GSC best practice 1,2 PP 1.3 Implement a voluntary green building code for new or substantially reconstructed buildings • Consider incentives to encourage local builders and contractors to attend green building workshops available in Minnesota CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2 • Require any new building that receives public funding or incentives to be constructed to green building standards GSC best practice 3
City of Northfield Climate Action Plan 35 PP 1.4 Ensure all new public buildings are designed, constructed, and operated to the highest available green CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2 building standards GSC best practice 3 PP 1.5 Consider purchasing policies for the City that incorporate best practices in waste reduction, lower product consumption, lower energy use, and considers the origin and energy demand to get product CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2 from origin to the City
PP – 2 Small Energy Users Description: Small businesses and residences make up a smaller share of emissions in the community but represent a greater share of the number of buildings. Policies aimed at these sectors should focus on achieving maximum carbon reductions from a high number of premises without overburdening City staff and volunteer community members. Recommended Actions General GHG Impact PP 2.1 Research truth in housing and rental policy as a tool to allow for energy consumption disclosure at the CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2 time of sale or rental, in consideration with on-going staff efforts PP 2.2 Provide energy efficiency, renewable energy, and water conservation best practice resources on the CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2 City website and at promotional events PP 2.3 Through the PiE Energy Action Plan, increase annual participation in deep energy conservation CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2 programs for residences and small businesses GSC best practice 2 PP 2.4 Collaborate with other cities to support state level legislation to enable green residential development CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2 standards GSC best practice 3 PP 2.5 Enable residential Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) financing when it becomes available; CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2 promote commercial PACE to small businesses
PP – 3 Renewable Energy Description: The City has abundant renewable resources available in both wind and solar. In order to accelerate its carbon reduction goals, the City can focus on renewable energy procurement options that meet or exceed consumption in the community. Recommended Actions General GHG Impact
PP 3.1 Explore policy options to incentivize solar-ready and EV-ready homes by 2020 GSC best practice 2 CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2
PP 3.2 Establish an in-boundary goal to generate the equivalent of 10% of the City’s electricity from rooftop CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2 and ground-mount solar installations by 2030 GSC best practice 26 PP 3.3 Identify opportunities to expand renewable energy in or near Northfield; coordinate with Carleton, St. CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2 Olaf, Post Consumer Brands (formerly Malt-O-Meal), and Xcel Energy GSC best practice 26
City of Northfield Climate Action Plan 36 PP 3.4 Encourage rooftop solar on commercial buildings where there is an economically viable solar resource CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2 (i.e. available space with adequate sunlight, and a structurally sound roof) GSC best practice 26
PP 3.5 Promote Renewable*Connect or other green power purchase programs for businesses and residences CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2
PP 3.6 Promote community solar garden subscriptions; identify opportunities for low-income access to CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2 subscriptions
PP – 4 Transportation and Land Use Policy Description: The built environment, development patterns, and transportation systems influence energy consumption and emissions. Recommended Actions General GHG Impact PP 4.1 Adopt a policy for market-based pricing for parking in commercial areas and dedicate funds to go CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2 toward transportation for biking, walking, and public transit GSC best practice 12 PP 4.2 Work with Hiawathaland transit and other partners to explore a subsidized bus pass program and/or simplify the payment method to increase ridership on the existing transit system GSC best practice 12 CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2 PP 4.3 Work with Hiawatha Land Transit and other partners to move toward a fully electric local and regional CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2 transit system GSC best practice 12 PP 4.4 Collaborate with community partners, particularly St. Olaf and Carleton, to explore bike, scooter, car- CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2 sharing or other mobility options; ensure motorized options are electric and accessible to all residents PP 4.5 Continue to implement the current bike/ped plan to improve access and safety of bike and pedestrian CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2 infrastructure GSC best practice 12 PP 4.6 Provide adequate public charging spaces that can accommodate multiple charging ports for additional CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2 mobility options; connect to solar energy systems when possible
PP 4.7 Partner with local businesses to catalyze EV charging infrastructure CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2
PP 4.8 Engage landowners and surrounding communities to implement the Greater Northfield Area CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2 Greenway System (2007) GSC best practice 12
PP – 5 Sustainable Products and Waste Description: Implement policies and actions to support substantial waste reduction. Recommended Actions General GHG Impact
PP 5.1 Develop a green purchasing policy for City operations and public events GSC best practice 15 CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2
City of Northfield Climate Action Plan 37 PP 5.2 Establish a zero-waste policy to be achieved by 2030 and eliminate 100% of organic materials from the CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2 waste stream by 2025 through a robust composting program GSC best practice 22
PP 5.3 Develop a zero-waste packaging ordinance and support local businesses to transition GSC best practice CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2 22 Coordinate with local waste and recycling haulers to offer curbside compost pick-up for residents and PP 5.4 CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2 businesses that will be delivered to a local waste processing facility (EE 2.3 and IN 3.11) GSC best practice PP 5.5 Make composting and recycling available in public spaces with appropriate signage CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2 22 PP 5.6 Encourage businesses to collaborate on sustainable and resilient products, e.g., facilitate a bulk buy of CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2 compostable products (cups, straws) and ensure proper recovery is available GSC best practice 22
PP – 6 Increasing local food production Description: Expand opportunities for more local food production in and around the community. This can be led by a volunteer entity in partnership with City staff. Recommended Actions General GHG Impact PP 6.1 Create an urban forage program that encourages people to share excess food grown in their yards CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2 with people willing to collect that food PP 6.2 Partner with local schools and farmers to create a farm-to-school program where students can learn more about where food comes from CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2
PP – 7 CAP Policy Integration Description: Ensure full implementation of existing City plans that relate to climate to institutionalize the plan across all City operations and actions. Recommended Actions General GHG Impact PP 7.1 Integrate the Climate Action Plan into policy and plan updates including, but not limited to, the CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2 comprehensive plan, Land Development Code, complete streets policies, and others PP 7.2 Integrate the Climate Action Plan into budgetary decisions including, but not limited to, the City CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2 operating budget, capital improvement plan, and the purchasing policy PP 7.3 Update and adopt the Urban Forestry Asset Management Plan to include climate mitigation best practices for carbon sequestration in vegetation and soil. Include incentives for tree planting and soil CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2 enhancements throughout the community PP 7.4 Engage decision-makers, including local members of boards and commissions, county officials, as well CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2 as state and national representatives, around elements of the climate action plan.
City of Northfield Climate Action Plan 38 Innovation and Demonstration The City of Northfield shall pursue these and other innovative projects that can also serve as demonstrations for Northfield residents and businesses as well as other communities locally, state-wide, and nationally wherever applicable. These projects will require a new approach that will test unfamiliar concepts and prepare to scale up those that demonstrate viability.
Impact on Emissions: These projects have the potential to achieve significant reductions in emissions.
Desired Outcome: The desired outcome of these strategies is to identify where the City can focus its efforts on deep GHG reductions through the successes and lessons learned. IN – 1 Advanced Building Energy Description: While many of these technologies are currently available, they are not necessarily widely used for a variety of reasons. Recommended Actions General GHG Impact
IN 1.1 Seek partners and opportunities to encourage development projects that can demonstrate a net zero CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2 energy building design GSC best practice 2 IN 1.2 Explore opportunities to be a test/demonstration community for alternative building design, materials,
and land management with promise to reduce energy use, incorporate recycled materials, enhance CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2 natural assets, or educate others on innovative solutions not presently permitted by codes/policies IN 1.3 Work with the Minnesota Department of Commerce to map heat waste with heat loads to see if there are opportunities for combined heat and power and district heating technologies to be utilized GSC CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2 best practice 2 IN 1.4 Partner with local businesses, institutions, and Xcel Energy to explore pilot micro-grid with renewable CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2 power and battery storage project GSC best practice 26
IN 1.5 Partner with Dakota and Rice Counties and surrounding communities to understand opportunities and CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2 barriers for an anaerobic digester for food and agricultural waste GSC best practice 22
IN – 2 Transportation and Land Use Description: Innovative transportation and land use projects that may take additional research and buy in before they are implemented. Recommended Actions General GHG Impact
IN 2.1 Partner with businesses to catalyze public EV charging CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2
City of Northfield Climate Action Plan 39 IN 2.2 Update and strengthen the comprehensive plan and Land Development Code to increase residential density within City limits through infill best practices, such as the elimination of minimum parking CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2 requirements GSC best practice 6 IN 2.3 Research and promote land management practices to encourage carbon sequestration through trees CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2 and soil GSC best practice 16
IN – 3 City Operations Description: City operations can lead by example through implementation of best practices for City buildings and facilities, fleet, and water and wastewater operations, as well as forestry and land management. Recommended Actions General GHG Impact IN 3.1 Set annual targets to reduce energy use and emissions among City operations, including facilities, CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2 buildings, and fleet GSC best practice 24 IN 3.2 Utilize an asset management software tool to track and monitor the operations of City buildings and CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2 help plan for maintenance GSC best practice 1 IN 3.3 When making large capital improvement decisions, utilize a life-cycle cost assessment rather than CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2 simple payback IN 3.4 Adopt zero waste goals and procedures for all City led events, provide training and technical assistance CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2 GSC best practice 22 IN 3.5 Explore options to host a community solar garden with subscriptions reserved for low to moderate CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2 income residents GSC best practice 26 IN 3.6 Evaluate the feasibility of developing and utilizing green bulk purchases for recyclable or compostable CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2 products with all City contracts GSC best practice 26 IN 3.7 Complete a fleet study to identify opportunities to reduce GHGs from the City fleet, including the CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2 potential to replace vehicles with electric models and/or right-sized vehicles GSC best practice 13 IN 3.8 Identify opportunities for on-site renewable installations, particularly paired with storage for back-up CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2 power at critical facilities GSC best practice 26 IN 3.9 Increase carbon sequestration through reforestation and enhancement of soil health on public lands CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2 through conversion of turf to native plantings and plant species that can tolerate a changing climate
IN 3.10 Accelerate replacement of City-owned outdoor lights with efficient products CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2
IN 3.11 Encourage and facilitate the creation of businesses to support a zero-waste community such as those CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2 that could manage the processing of waste products into usable materials and increase the tax base
City of Northfield Climate Action Plan 40 Supporting the Plan The development and adoption of this plan is only the beginning. Implementation will require a coordinated, on-going effort that maintains the momentum of the plan, monitors and shares progress, and ensures that the City is on track to meet its targets. Adjustments will need to be made along the way to make sure the plan is in alignment with the technological, political, and economic advancements that will take place in the coming years. Dedicating staff and resources to the plan will help to ensure its success. SP – 1 Staff and Community Involvement Description: Successful implementation of the CAP will require a coordinated effort between the City and the community. Recommended Actions General GHG Impact
SP 1.1 Hire a full-time City staff position to focus on coordination and implementation of the plan CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2
SP 1.2 Ensure public engagement and implementation initiatives to promote diversity, inclusion and equity CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2
SP 1.3 Ensure youth representation and involvement is a part of the coordinated effort - GSC best practice 24 CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2
SP 1.4 Engage the Latinx community and supporting organizations throughout implementation CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2
SP 1.5 Engage the aging community throughout implementation CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2 Review and, if needed, expand the role of the EQC to include oversight and review of CAP and SP 1.6 CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2 sustainability, volunteer groups as needed to carry out action items, such as an Energy Task Force
SP 1.7 Provide an annual report to the EQC, Council, and public; make it available on the One-Stop-Shop CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2
SP – 2 Resources and Funding Description: Develop a plan to establish funding for CAP implementation. Recommended Actions General GHG Impact SP 2.1 Explore multiple means of securing funds for CAP implementation, including establishing a non-profit fund, grant programs, foundation funding, investment, financing, and fundraising events CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2
SP 2.2 Enter into a franchise agreement with Xcel Energy that includes volumetric fee and utilize funds CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2 SP 2.3 Use savings from City solar garden subscriptions to leverage City operations energy initiatives and/or CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2 other CAP activities SP 2.4 Consider using a portion of cost savings from energy improvements in public buildings to support a CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2 CO2 CAP position and/or implementation strategies
City of Northfield Climate Action Plan 41 Climate Adaptation and Resilience
The previous section addressed the causes of climate change and Northfield’s role in reducing its impact through GHG emissions mitigation. But climate change is already having demonstrable impact on the Earth’s natural systems and Northfield must prepare for and adjust to these changes. Minnesota has begun to see some of the most dramatic effects from a changing climate. Average annual temperatures are rising at a faster rate than most other parts of the country. Our winters are warming faster than average, especially overnight lows. Heavy precipitation events are more common throughout the state, with both annual precipitation level averages and the occurrence of mega-rain events on the rise — Northfield has seen two major flooding events since 2012. This Climate Action Plan includes strategies to reduce GHG emissions to mitigate the City’s impact on climate change, but it also recognizes the need to adapt to changes that are already occurring by improving the resilience of all residents, as well as the City’s built and natural infrastructure.
Resilience describes the ability of an individual or community to respond, adapt, and be minimally impacted by a changing climate. To address climate resilience, a vulnerability analysis has been completed. The complete analysis can be found in Appendix B. This section includes a summary of the assessment and recommended actions to improve community resilience. The summary contains an overview of anticipated climate hazards in Northfield, and the community's capacity to adapt, react, and be resilient to these climate hazards.
Climate change will have far-reaching effects that will impact communities, infrastructure, resources, and individuals differently. Assessing where and what a City and community’s vulnerabilities to climate hazards are will allow for proactive decision-making and intervention to enhance the safety and resilience of all Northfield residents.
Photo Credit: Carleton College
City of Northfield Draft Climate Action Plan 42 Local Climate Hazards As greenhouse gas levels in the atmosphere continue to rise, temperatures will increase, ecological functions will be altered, and precipitation and weather patterns will change. In 2018, the Climate & Health Program of the Minnesota Department of Health conducted a study analyzing current climate trends and examining climate projection data to forecast temperature and precipitation trends through 2075. The study found two major climate trends happening now and expected to continue in Southeast Minnesota: an increase in winter and summer temperatures, and an increase in heavy precipitation events, with longer periods of dry spells between.14
The increase in winter and summer temperatures is well documented: average winter low temperatures are rising, and winters are warming nearly 13 times faster than summers. The Minnesota Department of Health projects the average maximum summer temperature to increase by 7.7°F (4.2°C) through 2075 compared to 1981 under a business-as-usual scenario. The same projection forecasts a 9.1°F (5° C) increase in average winter minimum temperatures through 2075. Warmer temperatures have direct and indirect effects on climate, ecology, and people, further outlined below.
Warming temperatures also cause more extreme and variable precipitation patterns through an increase in evaporation and the increased capacity for warmer air to hold water vapor. More moisture in the atmosphere then produces more intense precipitation events. The graphic below provides a visualization of climate change impacts in Minnesota and some human health effects associated with these changes. This graphic does not represent all impacts associated with climate change, but rather a summary of major impacts associated with climate change.
Air Weather Water Ecosystem
Pollution, Pollen Extreme weather, heat Flooding, drought, availability Ecological changes
• Respiratory illness • Heat stress, illness • Waterborne disease • Cardiovascular disease • Infrastructure stress • Water quality • Vector-borne diseases Tree canopy impact • Allergies • Power outages • Scarcity • • Infrastructure damage • Drowning, injury
Figure 10. Climate impacts on health and well-being. Adapted from Minnesota Department of Health, “Minnesota Climate and Health Profile Report Summary,” 2016.
14 Minnesota Climate & Health Program, Planning for Climate & Health Impacts in Southeast Minnesota, https://www.health.state.mn.us/communities/environment/climate/docs/hsem_region1.pdf (accessed June 2019).
City of Northfield Climate Action Plan 43 Resilience Assessment Resilience is measured by the strengths and vulnerabilities of a community, including population, built infrastructure, and natural infrastructure. Understanding a community’s resilience to climate change requires an analysis of existing community strengths: aspects of infrastructure and community character that make a City more able to swiftly and safely adapt to a changing climate. At the same time, to improve its resilience, a community must know what its vulnerabilities are.
Vulnerabilities to climate hazards are a result of a confluence of factors including geographic location, pre- existing characteristics, and situational context. The full assessment in Appendix B analyzes the strengths, vulnerabilities, and opportunities of natural infrastructure, built infrastructure, and community population.
People are impacted differently by climate hazards. The ability to recover from a climate event like a major flood may depend on a variety factors. Vulnerability in populations can be assessed through inherent and situational factors. Situational factors mean that an individual may only be vulnerable at the moment of a climate hazard, rather than inherently more vulnerable to impacts from climate events. For example, preexisting health conditions are likely to make an individual more inherently vulnerable to certain climate hazards, whereas vulnerability can also be temporary and dynamic, as is the case with certain health conditions, pregnancy, and homelessness. Some opportunities for increased population resilience focus on individual action, while others focus on community-wide strategies to increase resilience.
Built infrastructure can also be vulnerable to climate hazards. Its vulnerability may damage the built environment like City assets, private buildings, and the well-being of the community. Built infrastructure includes buildings, transportation infrastructure (roads and bridges, public transportation, and active mobility), water infrastructure (stormwater, drinking water, and wastewater), and critical infrastructure (back-up generation facilities and energy infrastructure).
Natural infrastructure like trees, native plants, water, and ecosystems are simultaneously susceptible to climate hazards and crucial to help improve the resiliency of the City. For example, saplings in a flood zone may be vulnerable to damage from flooding, but increased tree cover community wide will sequester carbon, increase soil health, and provide shade during heat waves. This analysis focuses on trees and native plants, water supply and quality, and parks and natural spaces in Northfield.
The resilience assessment in Appendix B examines vulnerabilities, strengths, and opportunities for increased resilience in the face of the six climate hazards identified previously. The following section includes a summary of the assessment and recommended actions to improve community resilience.
City of Northfield Climate Action Plan 44 Population Population vulnerability to climate hazards is impacted by where people live, the buildings in which they live and work, and demographic factors. Vulnerability and resilience are dynamic metrics and should not be taken only individually by demographic categories, but rather considered as indicators for potential impacts from climate hazards. Understanding residents’ needs can help the City to better direct its resources to both help prepare vulnerable residents for climate hazards and to provide support in the aftermath of a major event.
This analysis is based on a vulnerability assessment completed at the county-level by the Minnesota Department of Health, the corresponding demographic data provided by the U.S. Census American Community Survey, and county-level data regarding individual health related to disabilities and hospital visits for asthma. Further information was provided through focus group discussions with community organizations working with the Latinx residents of Northfield. Priority areas identified through those focus group discussions included concerns and opportunities related to housing (quality, access, affordability), mobility (transportation options and access), and health (food security, air quality, asthma and allergies). The following section describes existing demographic data. An analysis of strengths, vulnerabilities, and opportunities is further analyzed in Appendix B. Age The age of resident is an indicator of potential vulnerability to climate hazards. Those Percent of population above 65 & living alone under the age of 5 (4.6% of population) and over the age of 65 (14.2% of population) are more likely to be vulnerable to various climate hazards largely due to physiological differences and potential reliance on others for safety and care. These age cohorts may also be more susceptible to extreme weather impacts due to reliance on others for evacuation or mobility needs.
Young children, under the age of 5, are particularly vulnerable to heat-related illnesses and deaths, as well as more susceptible to air pollution related health impacts and vector- borne illnesses. Young children tend to spend more time outdoors engaging in activities that increase their breathing rate.
Figure 11. Source: U.S. Census Bureau; American Community Survey, 2013 - 2017 5-Year Estimates.
City of Northfield Climate Action Plan 45 Income & Housing Low-income residents may be more susceptible to climate hazards as they may Percent of population living lack the resources needed to afford adequate housing and may have limited or no below the poverty threshold access to a vehicle. In Northfield, the median household income is $62,032, with 11.7% of residents living below the poverty line and 31.3% qualifying for heating assistance. In addition, 5.4% of residents do not have access to a vehicle.
Poor housing quality can impact resident health and increase financial stress. For example, a home with little insulation and air sealing will result in colder indoor air temperatures in the winter and warmer in the summer; poor ventilation or water infiltration can cause mold spores to form, leading to respiratory illness. Often, homes in poor condition will cost more to heat and cool, increasing the energy burden of residents. A more energy efficient home protects inhabitants from extreme weather such as extreme heat, and helps to lower energy use, increasing grid resilience as electricity demand decreases.
Access to health or home insurance is an indicator for how well people can respond to damage from climate hazards. Low-income residents living in rental or mobile housing may be less likely to recover from extreme weather events and flooding events that cause property damage. Flooding is more likely to negatively impact houses that are poorly built. Community members experiencing homelessness or transitional housing are particularly susceptible to damage and health effects from these climate hazards as they may lack resources to protect themselves and their property from damage.
Figure 12. Vulnerable populations by income. Source: U.S. Census Bureau; Through focus group discussions, it was revealed that some Northfield community American Community Survey, 2013 - 2017 5-Year Estimates; all estimates members are forced to run water continuously during the coldest days of winter to are normalized by census block population. Map generated by Jessi Wyatt. avoid freezing pipes — a weatherization and efficiency issue that has a noticeable impact community-wide water consumption, as well as an added cost burden to those residents, demonstrated in the Local Water Supply Plan.
Housing location can also increase or decrease vulnerability. There are 29 homes in Northfield that have flood insurance through the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). Between 1998 and 2016, $2.32 million have been paid out in claims for damage to structures and belongings from flooding in Northfield.
City of Northfield Climate Action Plan 46 Language & Race Residents with limited English proficiency may be more vulnerable to climate hazards, Population by Race (non-white) primarily due to barriers in understanding and/or receiving emergency response or evacuation information. The most commonly spoken language besides English in Northfield is Spanish. 2.9% of Northfield residents speak English “less than very well,” according to the 2017 5-year American Community Survey.
Race can be an indicator of vulnerability to climate hazards. In Minnesota, not all residents have benefitted equally from environmental improvements. The routing of roadways, siting polluting industries near communities of color, and limiting access to resources have created inequities that impact health and economic mobility. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency found that people of color are more likely to be exposed to more pollution than middle and upper income white residents; are more vulnerable to health impacts from pollution and experience greater incidences of disease and death, often due to underlying health disparities; and that climate change disproportionately threatens vulnerable groups, amplifying existing economic and health challenges.
According to the U.S. Census, 88.5% of Northfield residents identify as white, with Latinx- identified population as the next largest at 8.7%. Figure 13 at right shows Northfield’s population by race. The areas of the community where 30% or more of the population is non-white overlaps with the map in Figure 12 (previous page) that shows that the highest concentration of poverty in the same area, indicating that residents in those neighborhoods may be more vulnerable to climate hazards as compared to other areas of the community. Figure 13. Vulnerable populations by race. Source: U.S. Census Bureau; American Community Survey, 2013 - 2017 5-Year Estimates; all estimates are normalized by census block population. Map generated by Jessi Wyatt. Food Security Access to healthy and affordable food is a critical issue for low- and moderate-income families. Food security measures the availability and ability to access food. Food secure households have both the ability to afford healthy food and live in close proximity, or can travel further, to buy local food. Food insecure homes may not have access to healthy food due to an inability to afford it or complicated by how far they may need to travel to access it. In Rice County, 9% of the population are considered food insecure. While there are more healthy food options available within Northfield compared to surrounding communities, those options are not always affordable to all residents.
City of Northfield Climate Action Plan 47 Ability Level & Health Residents with limited mobility or pre-existing medical conditions may be more vulnerable to climate hazards. Residents with respiratory illnesses are more susceptible to health issues associated with poor air quality days, exposure to allergens from pollen, and exposure to mold.
In Rice County, 673 people visited the emergency room for asthma-related illnesses between 2013-2015. The rate of emergency department visits was 34.4 in Rice County, compared to 37.6 statewide for 2013-2015. The rate is a ratio of the number of emergency room visits divided by the number of people at risk in a population. Hospitalization rates for pulmonary disease (age-adjusted) are 19.8 in Rice County and 14.6 statewide.
Residents in wheelchairs and with other mobility limitations are vulnerable to health impacts in recovering from hazards including extreme weather and floods, as they may have more difficulty evacuating or avoiding sidewalks that are flooded. Disability status is measured through the American Community Survey and encompasses many forms of disability. Statewide, 11.2% of the population has a disability and in Northfield that rate is 7.5%.
Photo Credit: Carleton College
City of Northfield Climate Action Plan 48 Built Infrastructure The built infrastructure of a City includes facilities constructed for water distribution and treatment, transportation and mobility, buildings, and critical infrastructure such as the delivery of energy. These features are crucial to the functioning of a City and the safety of its residents. Built infrastructure may be susceptible to climate hazards, especially when not maintained regularly nor constructed with consideration of future climate impacts. Built infrastructure can be particularly vulnerable to increased precipitation and freeze/thaw cycles, which can shock and stress pipes, roads, and bridges, leading to structural damage. This section provides a snapshot of climate hazards of greatest concern for built infrastructure in Northfield. Information for this section was gathered from City staff, existing reports, plans available on the City website, and data from State agencies.
Water Infrastructure Water infrastructure includes drinking water, stormwater infrastructure, and wastewater treatment. Access to clean, potable water is central to the safety and vitality of Northfield residents and businesses. Water infrastructure may be susceptible to climate hazards including prolonged heatwaves, heavy precipitation, extreme weather events, and freeze/thaw cycles. Power outages caused by extreme weather can impact the functioning of wastewater and drinking water infrastructure. With increased heavy precipitation events, stormwater infrastructure may be stressed or overwhelmed, limiting its ability to effectively convey or allow water to infiltrate as designed. Further, flooding and flash flooding events can increase the likelihood of surface water contamination, reducing water quality. Power outages caused by extreme weather can impact the functionality of wastewater and drinking water infrastructure.
Stormwater Infrastructure Stormwater infrastructure supports community resiliency during periods of heavy rainfall. Conveyance systems help to move water quickly to rivers, streams, and lakes - away from the built environment. While this strategy works for most rainfalls, it may have negative impacts in times of heavier than anticipated rain events. Systems that are not designed to handle heavy rains may not have the capacity to intake large volumes of water, leading to back-ups and potential for flash flooding. Further, there may be downstream impacts related to sending too much water, too fast, and sometimes carrying debris or pollutants, into bodies of water.
Supplementing stormwater conveyance systems with green infrastructure can help mitigate some of these challenges. Green infrastructure, like bioretention ponds and rain gardens, as well as other infrastructure changes like permeable paving surfaces, can help slow the flow of stormwater and filter contaminants. According to Northfield’s Comprehensive plan, the City’s stormwater drainage system consists of detention and quality treatment ponds, creeks, drainage ways, roadway gutters, overflow and yard drainage swales, catch basins, storm sewer Photo Credit: Great Plains Institute lateral and storm sewer trunk main facilities.
City of Northfield Climate Action Plan 49 Conveyance Systems: In Northfield, there are about 40 miles of stormwater pipes, including gravity mains and drain tiles. Stormwater pipes primarily direct water into the Cannon River. Most pipes that the City has data on range from 12 to 36 inches in diameter. The City does not have a complete record on the age and condition of storm lines City-wide. As rainfall and precipitation increase, stormwater will increase, raising the concern of burdening the capacity of these conveyance systems.
Green Infrastructure: Northfield’s green stormwater infrastructure includes 57 bioretention ponds and one infiltration basin. The stormwater ponds are an average of 20.5 years old. In 2017, a water quality assessment was completed for the City of Northfield.15 The assessment examines stormwater ponds and measured their water quality against the state quality standard. Eight bioretention ponds were identified as high priority to be improved as they have reached or are approaching their sediment accumulation capacity. When stormwater runoff enters impaired ponds, the runoff is not adequately filtered, and therefore is less effective at mitigating flooding and improving water quality because the ponds can no longer hold water at their designed capacity. When ponds reach or exceed their design capacity, more polluted water enters the river. The City of Northfield provides incentive programs for residents to install rain gardens, native plantings, and rain barrels. These programs encourage residents to manage stormwater runoff in their own yards and residences.
Drinking Water Water demand is forecasted to increase as summer days become warmer: community members will drink more water to cool themselves down and use more water for distressed trees and other vegetation. Potable water in Northfield comes from five ground-water wells originating from the Jordan-St. Lawrence, Jordan and Jordan-Prairie-du-Chien aquifers.16 The wells range from 365 to 415 deep. There are three storage facilities for potable water. The water distribution system is made up of water mains ranging from 4 to 24 inches in diameter. In 2006, Northfield conducted a comprehensive water plan, which identified the water distribution system as effective and serving its purpose well.17 To ensure resilience to climate events, the City must ensure maintenance and expansion of the water system as population trends increase and climate hazards introduce new threats to the system. As extreme weather is projected to increase, however, the City should be prepared to respond to quality and age issues of wells in the event of a pipe burst.
Wastewater Infrastructure Wastewater infrastructure is made up of sewage lines and wastewater treatment facilities. This infrastructure may be more vulnerable to climate hazards as it ages and if maintenances is deferred. In Northfield, the sewage system serves 7.66 square miles and was originally constructed in the early 1900s.18 The pipes range from 4 to 52 inches in diameter and the system is primarily a gravity pipe network. About 10% of the sewage lines are older than 50 years old, which is an indicator of system vulnerability to performance issues. Inflow/infiltration is a problem that may occur when clean water enters the sanitary sewer system, potentially causing back-up problems and the unnecessary treatment of clean water. In 2008, the Sewage Comprehensive Plan for Northfield indicated no significant infiltration or inflow issues in Northfield.
15 City of Northfield, City of Northfield Stormwater Pond Assessment, https://www.ci.northfield.mn.us/DocumentCenter/View/6170/Northfield-Pond-Assessment---Final-Report---12212017?bidId= , (accessed June 2019). 16 https://ci.northfield.mn.us/DocumentCenter/View/7825/2018-Northfield-CCR 17 City of Northfield, Comprehensive Water Plan, https://www.ci.northfield.mn.us/DocumentCenter/View/608/ComprehensiveWaterPlan?bidId= , (accessed June 2019). 18 City of Northfield, Comprehensive Sanitary Sewer Plan for the Northfield/Dundas Area, https://www.ci.northfield.mn.us/DocumentCenter/View/607/ComprehensiveStormsewerPlan?bidId=, (accessed June 2019).
City of Northfield Climate Action Plan 50 The City of Northfield operates a wastewater treatment facility that discharges into the Cannon River. In 2016, the City completed a plan for Northfield’s Wastewater Treatment Facility that included recommendations for improvements, repairs, and replacements.19 The facility was originally constructed in 1958, with the latest improvements before 2016 occurring in 2002. The facility was designed to meet the needs of the community until 2020. In 2018, the Northfield wastewater treatment facility experienced overflow issues and a fire. This City is currently updating the facility; upgrades are projected to be complete in February 2020. Transportation Infrastructure Transportation infrastructure – roads, bridges, public transportation routes, bike/pedestrian trails and sidewalks – allows for movement of people and goods. Increased extreme weather events, particularly more frequent and intense precipitation events, put stress on built infrastructure systems. Roads, bridges, and routes that are older and maintained less frequently are particularly vulnerable to hazards and potentially increasing overall maintenance costs and inhibit travel. Resilient transportation systems can facilitate active mobility choices, improving public health and enhancing stormwater infrastructure with capture and infiltration systems.
This section assesses the existing transportation network – roads and bridge, public transportation, and active mobility – in Northfield, and identifies strengths, vulnerabilities, and opportunities to improve its resilience.
Roads and Bridges Roads and bridges are both vulnerable to climate hazards and provide an opportunity for increased resiliency for Northfield residents. Roads and bridges may be particularly susceptible to damage caused by increased freeze/ thaw cycles, extreme heat, and flooding. The biggest risk of these climate hazards on roads and bridges is increased maintenance costs for infrastructure to ensure safety. Northfield contains 74 miles of roads – 18% of which (14.4 miles) are in less than fair condition. According to the Capital Improvement Plan, all roads will be reconstructed by 2021. There are 12 bridges in Northfield, all of which are in good or fair condition.
Road and bridge networks present an opportunity for community resilience through stormwater management and mobility. Safe, reliable mobility options are important for residents under normal conditions and will be especially important as residents move away from potential climate hazards.
Public Transportation Public transportation options not only help to mitigate emissions, but also provide an opportunity for increased community resilience. Hiawathaland Transit serves the internal Northfield-Dundas region and Dial-a-ride bus services are available within the City. Northfield Lines, which has stops between Northfield and the Twin Cities Photo Credit: Great Plains Institute metropolitan area, stops at Carleton College, downtown Northfield, and St. Olaf College regularly, at least once daily. Of commuters traveling to and from Northfield, 0.50% of commuters use these bus lines to commute according to the 2017 American Community Survey estimates.
19 City of Northfield, Wastewater Treatment Facility Plan, https://kymnradio.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Final-Northfield-Facility-Plan-Adopted-2016-02-16.pdf , (accessed June 2019).
City of Northfield Climate Action Plan 51 In focus group discussions with both the Latinx community and college students, many community members noted the frustration with the limited options for transit in the community. In these conversations, it was expressed that the existing services are difficult to navigate, have limited frequency, and are the slowest transportation option for movement throughout the community.
Active Mobility Active mobility options include bicycling, walking, scootering, rollerblading, Pedestrian and Bike Trails and other forms of movement and rolling. Benefits of active mobility options include increased exercise, physical and mental health benefits, safer mobility, and reduced emissions. A cohesive, safe, well-maintained network of trails can enhance resiliency to climate hazards, particularly for those residents without access to a personal vehicle. Increased mobility options help people avoid, evacuate from, and adapt to climate hazards, such as a flood near their home.
About 8% of Northfield residents walk or bike to work. Northfield has approximately 26.23 miles of trail – a combination of biking, walking, or combined trails. Many trails, mapped in Figure 14, are fragmented – a notable exception is the Mill Towns State Trail, which loops around the Cannon River. Most of the biking and walking trails are both located and connected in the southern portion of the community and along the Cannon going south from downtown.
In April 2019, Toole Engineering conducted an analysis of different plans and policies in Northfield that impact transportation, with the intention of improving pedestrian, bicycle, and trail networks.20 As a part of this study, Toole Design facilitated an online gap analysis performed by Northfield residents. The analysis identified bicycling and walking network gaps in the City. Generally, Toole Design found that pedestrian problem areas are clustered along three major corridors with both limited pedestrian visibility and protection when crossing, fast-moving traffic failing to yield, a lack of pedestrian protection arounds schools, and a lack of sidewalk. Bicycling problem areas are clustered along similar corridors as pedestrian areas, with common concerns being a lack of safe crossing areas, fast- Figure 14. Pedestrian and bicycle trails in Northfield, MN. Source: City of Northfield Public moving traffic, and poor maintenance and signage of existing routes. This analysis Works Department, 2019; generated by Jessi Wyatt. is useful in helping to determine areas that Northfield can prioritize as it expands infrastructure for active mobility.
20 City of Northfield, City of Northfield Pedestrian, Bike, and Trail System, https://www.ci.northfield.mn.us/DocumentCenter/View/7570/City-of-Northfield-Pedestrian-Bike-and-Trail-System_Final- Report?bidId=. (Accessed June 2019).
City of Northfield Climate Action Plan 52 Buildings and Critical Infrastructure Protecting buildings and critical infrastructure from extreme weather and heavy precipitation events can help minimize damage, sustain function, reduce costs, and keep people safe. Buildings most vulnerable are those with deferred maintenance, structures in flood plains or in areas prone to flash flooding, or those with poor construction material. Both public and private buildings should be considered. The City owns seven buildings and 25 park facilities, there are 130 industrial buildings, 546 commercial buildings, and more than 5,000 residential buildings in Northfield.
Critical infrastructure can include hospitals, schools, emergency services, and community centers. It also includes telecommunication and energy services, and modes of travel. Such entities and systems are vulnerable to electric power outages, which can increase in frequency with extreme weather and prolonged heatwaves. Damage to critical infrastructure can disrupt emergency response, reduce access to necessary power or communication, and impact the health of those in need of emergency and other health services. Protecting and reinforcing these assets to withstand extreme weather will help the City better prepare for extreme events.
Xcel Energy provides electricity and natural gas to Northfield. Reliability and safety are among the company’s top priorities. Any event impacting the distribution system that leads to power failure must be addressed as quickly as possible. Xcel Energy owns the distribution system and is responsible for ensuring it delivers power. Extreme weather events and ice storms pose threats to distribution infrastructure that could lead to power outages. This is especially critical in times of extreme temperatures when people have heating and cooling needs; it also impacts those who depend on medical devices and businesses that rely on electricity. Building a resilient grid — burying power lines where feasible, incorporating micro-grids, and having back-up power — can help minimize risk.
Photo Credit: Great Plains Institute
City of Northfield Climate Action Plan 53 Natural Infrastructure The natural infrastructure of a City includes ecological features that supplement built infrastructure to provide essential services such as water infiltration, air quality improvements, carbon sequestration, and quality of life enhancement. Natural infrastructure includes trees, rain gardens, native landscaping, as well as wetlands and water bodies. These features can be both vulnerable to climate hazards and help mitigate impacts of climate hazards. For example, a healthy and extensive tree canopy sequesters carbon, provides shade on the increased extreme heat days, and filters stormwater. This section provides a snapshot of climate hazards that threaten natural infrastructure, describing existing conditions, strengths, vulnerabilities, and opportunities.
Trees and Native Plants Trees are an important asset that provide ecological, environmental, social, and economic benefits to communities. Trees improve air quality, support healthy ecosystems and biodiversity, sequester carbon, help to manage stormwater run-off, enhance community aesthetics, and provide shade. Similarly, native plants provide habitat to pollinators, improve surface water quality, and enhance aesthetics. During times of extreme heat events, shading from trees becomes particularly important. Likewise, improved infiltration of stormwater runoff provided by tree and plant root systems is critical as major rain events become more frequent and intense.
The health of a community’s tree canopy has broad-reaching implications for climate resilience and mitigation. Northfield has a tree canopy coverage of 30.3%, indicating moderately healthy coverage and an opportunity to add more trees.
A significant concern for trees in Northfield is the prevalence of Emerald Ash Borer (EAB), a beetle whose larvae is lethal to ash trees. The invasive insect is increasing in prevalence partially due to warming winters in Minnesota. In Northfield, 20.3% of all trees are ash, meaning the canopy is particularly susceptible to EAB. Additionally, the highest percent of a single genus is Maple, accounting for 27.4%, well above the 10% recommended level Photo Credit: Great Plains Institute of a single genus. Northfield has six private and eight public rain gardens, totaling 0.8 acres of coverage across the 14 rain gardens. Rain gardens help to capture stormwater runoff and allow it to slowly infiltrate the ground, alleviating the volume of water that enters the conveyance system of the built stormwater system.
Soil health is also critical for a healthy urban forest. The establishment of a local waste processing facility could provide compost material that can be used for soil restoration and enhancement.
City of Northfield Climate Action Plan 54 Water Supply and Quality Stable water supply and good water quality are high priorities for communities. A stable, clean water source provides a resilient asset to the community as temperatures warm and extreme weather events increase. Increased precipitation and changing freeze-thaw cycles may impact stormwater management practices that help to maintain the health of surface water.
Groundwater Potable water in Northfield is drawn from a series of wells throughout the City. According to the City’s website, all municipal wells draw from the Jordan bedrock aquifers. The geology of the aquifer is primarily composed of sandstone, which has porous characteristics and is prone to fractures. Due to the permeability and the potential for wellheads to be compromised, the aquifer is most vulnerable to contaminations, especially to nitrates. Well surveys have already identified elevated nitrate levels in some of the supply wells. Risk of contamination is further exacerbated during heavy rain events.21 Many Northfield residents also have private wells.
Surface Water There are five major water bodies that convey and store water through Northfield: The Cannon River, Heath Creek, Spring Creek, Rice Creek (also called Spring Brook), and Lyman Lakes (wide spots of Spring Creek located at Carleton College). The Cannon River, Heath Creek, and Rice Creek/Spring Brook are listed as impaired by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency.22 The Cannon River is designated as impaired for aquatic life, aquatic consumption, and aquatic recreation due to Escherichia coli (E. coli). Heath Creek is designated as impaired for aquatic life and aquatic recreation due to the presence of E. coli. Rice Creek/Spring Brook is designated as impaired for aquatic life, aquatic recreation also due to E. coli, and drinking water due to nitrate contamination.
21 Metropolitan Council, Groundwater Digest, https://metrocouncil.org/Wastewater-Water/Publications-And- Resources/WATER-SUPPLY-PLANNING/Groundwater-Digest,-Twin-Cities-Metropolitan-Area,.aspx. (Accessed June 2019). 22 Inventory of All Impaired Waters, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (2018). https://www.pca.state.mn.us/ Photo Credit: Great Plains Institute water/minnesotas-impaired-waters-list. (Accessed June 2019).
City of Northfield Climate Action Plan 55 Wetlands Wetlands encourage water infiltration, filtering out toxins and pollutants from runoff or fertilizers, and providing habitat and carbon sequestration. Wetlands also provide erosion and flood control and habitat for plants and vegetation, as well as facilitating groundwater recharge and discharge and creating recreation opportunities and economic value for communities
According to the National Wetland Inventory in collaboration with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, there are an estimated 1,695.8 acres of wetlands in Northfield, inclusive of the Riverine designations (e.g. the Cannon River). The most prominent wetland type by area after Riverine is Freshwater Emergent Wetland. This wetland type is characterized by its temporal nature, which may make it seem like there is not wetland during parts of the dry season.
Land Use and Agriculture Northfield is a thriving, rural community with agricultural characteristics located about an hour south of the Twin Cities metro. It was mentioned previously that there are numerous land uses and practices that contribute to climate change, but there are also many climate and resilience benefits that can be realized through sustainable land use and agricultural practices. Specifically, land use decisions can help mitigate effects of rainfall, reduce urban heat island effect, store carbon, and support local food production. Figure 15. Inventory of all wetlands in Northfield. Source: Statewide Wetland Inventory (Minnesota DNR, 2018); map generated by Jessi Wyatt. In consideration of the increasing likelihood of heavy precipitation events, land cover practices that incorporate stormwater management best practices will help improve the City’s ability to withstand such events. Impervious surface refers to non-vegetated land – typically buildings, roads, parking lots, and other concrete areas. About 40% of land in Northfield is classified as impervious surface. High impervious cover can exacerbate and contribute to climate hazards like heavy precipitation events and urban heat island effect. Increasing vegetative cover and pervious surface, on the other hand, helps to minimize the impact of those hazards in addition to other benefits like storing carbon.
The agricultural nature of the community presents an opportunity to expand local food options. The Inter-Governmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) recently released a report highlighting sustainable land management and food security. The report points to declines in crop yields and global instability around food access, suggesting major shifts to the food system. Northfield has opportunity to leverage its local agricultural resources to expand food production and increase access to healthy food. Rice County conducted a survey in 2016 as part of its comprehensive plan update. One question asked about the importance of local food production in the county — 55.8% of respondents strongly agreed and 36.8% agreed, underscoring its importance to community members. Encouraging edible urban tree canopies, community gardens, and partnerships with local farms and community-supported agriculture can help minimize large climate hazards that risk interruption of traditional food supply chains to Northfield residents.
City of Northfield Climate Action Plan 56 Climate Resilience Strategies Building community resilience to changes in climate events is crucial to climate action and to ensuring the safety and well-being of the community. Strategies for increasing community resilience and addressing community vulnerabilities to climate hazards are divided into three main categories: improve population resilience, enhance built infrastructure resilience, and enhance natural infrastructure resilience. Improving community resilience presents many other opportunities, including addressing inequities within Northfield’s population that can exacerbate climate vulnerabilities. RS – 1 Improve Population Resilience Description: Improve community resilience by enabling community members to prepare for and recover from climate-related impacts through education, ensured food security, safe housing conditions, and emergency preparedness. Recommended Actions Preparedness and Response • Lead and support emergency preparedness measures: GSC best practice 29 o Aid in response to food scarcities due to extreme weather o Support a local, healthy food shelf GSC best practice 27 o Develop and support plans for evacuation measures, particularly for populations vulnerable to hazards and within flood zones and those with limited mobility considerations o Ensure that emergency alerts are available in Spanish and can be received through a variety of channels o Provide education materials on the health impacts of air pollutions and extreme heat GSC best practice 24 o Partner with community organizations to reach vulnerable populations • Support active living through mobility options that are equitably available and accessible throughout the community, especially in underserved communities GSC best practice 12 • Establish a food coordinator position to lead local food programming to support locally produced foods and businesses GSC best practice 27 Education and Resources • Develop educational materials about warming temperatures, increased precipitation events, and potential health impacts to help residents become more resilient to climate impacts Equity • Incorporate climate considerations and resilience strategies into Racial Equity Action Plan; ensure climate and equity are integrated into the comprehensive plan update GSC best practice 6 • Increase affordable housing, emergency and transitional housing in Northfield, and ensure safety of these homes GSC best practice 7 • Strengthen community connectedness across cultural groups through more inclusive community events and more intentional engagement with underrepresented groups GSC best practice 29 • Consider climate migrants (unexpected growth in population) in City planning efforts GSC best practice 29 • Ensure access to local, healthy food to all residents through partnerships to improve food security • Ensure sidewalks are well-maintained and accessible for those who have difficulty walking or use wheelchairs Housing • Explore opportunities to require energy improvements for quality affordable housing that is safe and energy efficient
City of Northfield Climate Action Plan 57 RS – 2 Enhance the Resilience of Built Infrastructure Description: Ensure long-term integrity and reliability of built infrastructure systems through maintenance and integration of resilience into long-term planning and projects. Recommended Actions Stormwater • Incorporate resilience into the capital improvement plan to ensure City infrastructure projects consider projected climate impacts GSC best practice 17 o Conduct an asset management assessment in consideration of life cycle costs and climate risks o Develop and utilize a climate lens for all City infrastructure planning • Increase community energy resilience during power outages through the development of micro-grids with storage and renewable electricity generation GSC best practice 20 • Evaluate upstream and downstream impact on the Cannon River of the Ames Mill Dam removal GSC best practice 17 • Use the higher historical rain events (500 or 1000-year floods) from Atlas 14 or projections as they become available for stormwater system planning and construction GSC best practice 17 • Incorporate smart sewer systems to monitor flows, overflow potential, and backup issues through sensors GSC best practice 20 • Increase the utilization of green infrastructure to supplement existing and future stormwater management systems, such as stormwater ponds and infiltration basins GSC best practice 29 • Work with upstream jurisdictions to mitigate flooding Potable Water • Work with State agencies and other local governments to monitor the stability of the water supply from the Jordan aquifer and support management efforts GSC best practice 20 • Ensure the drinking water availability is adequate and balanced to meet future demand without risking the supply GSC best practice 20 • Continue to ensure the wastewater system has capacity to support increase demand GSC best practice 20 Emergency Response • Coordinate with Dakota and Rice counties to plan for the management and recovery of waste after extreme weather events GSC best practice 22 • Ensure the incorporation of resilient elements such as microgrids, solar plus storage, and backup energy infrastructure GSC best practice 2 Land Use • Incorporate additional transportation modes (such as bike infrastructure, wide sidewalks) and green stormwater infrastructure systems (such as rain gardens) into street maintenance and reconstruction projects GSC best practice 12 • Prioritize community multi-modal connectivity in long-term planning GSC best practice 12 • Increase bicycle and pedestrian network connectivity through the Complete Streets Policy implementation and implementation of the “Pedestrian, Bike and Trail System Final Report" (April 2019), with an emphasis on connecting low-income neighborhoods with downtown Northfield GSC best practice 12 • Continue to include Accessory Dwelling Units as a permitted use in Northfield’s Land Development Code to enable more efficient use of land GSC best practice 14
City of Northfield Climate Action Plan 58 RS – 3 Natural Infrastructure Description: Protect and enhance natural infrastructure to ensure resilience to climate hazards and ability to mitigate impacts from climate hazards Recommended Actions Education • Host workshops to provide opportunities for interested parties to learn about actions they can take to improve resilience including: GSC best practice 24 o Soil remediation best practices o Increasing tree canopy and caring for existing trees on private property o Changing landscaping practices to consider beneficial plantings and practices that provide stormwater benefits, improve soil health, and increase pollinator habitat o Water conservation measures to reduce consumption of potable water and treatment of wastewater • Incorporate food education and farming programs into Northfield school districts GSC best practice 27
Urban Forest and Vegetation • Update and adopt the Urban Forestry Asset Management Plan GSC best practice 16 • Incentivize expansion of boulevard gardens on private property; expand boulevard gardens and rain gardens on City-owned lands, and incorporate pollinator gardens in all parks and encourage / incentivize them on private property GSC best practice 11 o Increase tree canopy through City-sponsored program to plant trees GSC best practice 16 o Prioritize tree replacement and plantings in areas of low canopy coverage to reduce the impact of Emerald Ash Borer damage o Proactively pursue increased canopy coverage to improve long-term resilience o Encourage the planting of fruit-bearing trees; support programs that harvest fruit • Pursue pervious pavement alternatives • With the development of City parks and green spaces, ensure accessibility for all residents through connected trails, proximity to low-income neighborhoods, and signage in English and Spanish Soil, Agriculture, and Food • Create Advisory Board that represents agricultural sector in Northfield, supporting best practice models for carbon reduction farming and equal access and affordability of sustainable food GSC best practice 16 • Enable and encourage more community gardens throughout the City GSC best practice 16 • Incentivize and reward soil best management practice for urban lawns, gardens, landscaping, parks, open spaces, prairies, environmentally sensitive areas, and agricultural land uses GSC best practice 16 • Support creation of local compost process facilities and systems to deliver organic material GSC best practice 22 • Increase conversation with agricultural producers to support local food systems and ensure sustainable agricultural land use practices, learn with and from community to better improve and achieve community resilience GSC best practice 27
City of Northfield Climate Action Plan 59 Plan Implementation
The first few years after plan adoption are critical to its success. Establishing roles, both internal and external, identifying funding, and determining priorities will help launch the plan and ensure it is on track. This plan includes aggressive goals to have carbon free electricity by 2030 and be zero carbon by 2040. This will require integration of the CAP into City operations, functions, and services; commitment and actions on behalf of residents and the business community; and a robust volunteer network to help shape and drive action. This section is intended to guide the City as it gets started deploying the CAP.
Building Internal Capacity Building internal capacity will be important to help establish the CAP as a priority for internal operations as well as fostering connections to the broader community through project building and service delivery.
1. Fund and hire 1 full-time, permanent staff who will be responsible for actions related to: • Facilitating discussion among large users to reduce emissions through business and industrial strategies • Participating in technical resource programs as they are available through the GreenStep Cities Program, such as: • The Efficient Buildings Collaborative offered by Hennepin County • The renewable energy procurement network offered by CERTs and GPI • Working with developers and builders on net zero energy buildings • Leading the Energy Task Force and implementing the residential strategies in the Energy Plan • Convening an internal City climate working group that meets regularly and provides updates on progress and success, and discusses strategies for more complex challenges, like advanced strategies and zero waste • Ensuring the One-Stop Shop webpage is maintained and regularly updated • Coordinating and organizing volunteer groups and events • Engaging city boards and commissions (e.g., the Planning Commission or Economic Development Authority) to ensure the CAP is integrated into their work plans
2. Develop internal targets and implement actions: • Complete an assessment of all City assets and prioritize actions based on life cycle costs and emissions impact • Set annual reduction targets across City departments • Consider how existing City funds can be utilized to deliver City services and operations through a climate lens
City of Northfield Draft Climate Action Plan 60 External Support City staff and elected officials will not be able to implement this plan without robust support from community members and coordination with jurisdictional, institutional, and organizational partners.
1. Establish the Environmental Quality Commission as the main citizen-body to support the implementation of the CAP • Form subcommittees that focus on particular areas of the CAP • Coordinate with City staff to receive updates on City projects and progress 2. Establish jurisdictional partnerships that advance CAP strategies to advance and accelerate action. This can include, but is not limited to Rice and Dakota counties, the State of Minnesota, the Cannon River Watershed Partnership, Xcel Energy, institutions like St. Olaf and Carleton, and neighboring communities. 3. Leverage partnerships with existing entities including, but not limited to: • Northfield Healthy Community Initiative • Greater Northfield Sustainability Collaborative Funding Funding the implementation of the CAP will require reallocation/reconsideration of existing City funds, raising new City funds, and identifying outside resources and funding opportunities. Some funds will need to be dedicated toward long-term support like staffing, while other funding will be on a project-by-project basis. The cost estimates included in the tables below are intended to give a sense of what implementation might cost, not actual dollar amounts. These estimates will include a mix of public and private funding and many of these initiatives will result in a financial payback.
1. Determine a budget and identify funding sources for staff dedicated to the implementation of the CAP 2. Identify a budget necessary to support projects on an annual basis: • For City operations projects, establish an internal fund to pay for energy improvements, direct any savings back to the fund • For community-based projects, identify funding opportunities including, but not limited to, foundation funding, crowd-sourcing, private investments, and Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) • Identify opportunities to increase tax base or production incentives through demonstration projects like large renewable energy systems or a waste (recycling and composting) processing facility • Create a Sequestration Fund which individuals can contribute into and the City can use for projects such as tree planting, native plantings, etc. 3. Utilize no-cost technical assistance offerings: • Participate in program offerings that help to establish a building energy benchmarking program, like the Efficient Buildings Collaborative • Participate in GreenStep Cities program offerings to network and share resources with peer cities, and access technical assistance from program partners and advisors
City of Northfield Climate Action Plan 61 1-3 Year Priority Projects: The following are projects were identified by the CAPAB and are intended to jump start the plan. These projects span climate resilience and mitigation, reaching all sectors of the community. The cost estimates provided are relative costs from least ($) to most ($$$$). It should be noted that costs include a mix of public and private investments and that many of these actions will result in cost savings as well, noted by $.
Internal Projects Leaders Cost Estimate 1. Build the One-Stop-Shop webpage on the City’s website. This will be a site dedicated to the CAP, providing resources for residents and business leaders to take action, sign-up opportunities for volunteers, event City staff $ registration, as well as CAP progress and success updates 2. Complete an assessment of City assets for carbon reducing opportunities, including:
a. Fleet assessment of all City-owned vehicles City staff $$$ b. Building benchmarking and asset management study c. Solar site analysis for rooftop and ground-mount opportunities 3. A carbon-free City will need to plan for the elimination of fossil fuels in the community, including how to work with community members on fuel switching strategies, how to think strategically about future infrastructure City staff $$ changes for natural gas and transportation fuels (e.g., gasoline), and how to move toward zero waste. The City's internal climate team should begin think about long-term strategies to transition to clean energy.
Community-wide Projects Leaders Cost Estimate 1. Identifying opportunities for on-site renewables to the achieve the 10% in-boundary generation goal (20 MW) • Complete a solar and wind analysis to determine how much renewable energy could be generated locally City staff, EQC, • Determine the amount of community solar garden subscriptions and green power purchases Energy Task $$$$ (Renewable*Connect) needed to support the goal Force • Add at least 1 MW of renewable energy by 2021 2. There is enormous potential to store carbon in trees, plants, and soils. This plan identified tree planting as a priority for the community to not only store carbon, but to provide additional co-benefits that come with increased canopy coverage. City staff, EQC, • Establish annual tree planting goals and identify priority areas in the community for accelerated tree Park board, $$$ planting and replacement Northfield in • Create a community-wide tree planting event Bloom • Work with volunteers to enhance the existing volunteer tree planting program • Dedicate at least $2/per resident to the City’s annual forestry program 3. Collaborate with PiE staff, the Energy Task Force, and EQC to execute shared building energy action items, City staff, EQC, particularly those that address large energy consumers and low-income households. Energy Task $ Force
City of Northfield Climate Action Plan 62 Reduction Targets: To meet the goals of this plan, the City will need to steeply reduce its emissions over the next 20 years. This plan includes strategies that will reduce emissions 77% from anticipated, business-as-usual, 2040 emissions. Some of the emissions reductions, about 22%, will be met by Xcel Energy. The remaining 53% will be met through commercial/industrial efficiency (26%), residential efficiency (4%), local renewable energy (7%), fuel switching (8%), travel reductions (6%), and waste strategies (2%). The City will need to achieve, on average, an annual reduction of -2.75% of its baseline emissions to reach the planned 77% reduction, or a -3.90% annual reduction of its baseline to meet is goal to be carbon free by 2040. The three-year targets below are intended to get the City started across the various sectors and positioned to meet or exceed annual targets.
2025: -13% 2030: -26% 2035: -39% 2040: -53%
Three-year targets:
• Assessment of City assets completed and a plan in place to reduce emissions from city operations • City eet assessment completed and purchasing policy updated • Commitment from large energy users to meet city climate goals • Additional public EV infrastructure available in the community • Building benchmarking program established
• 1 MW of additional renewable energy • 10 miles of additional bike and pedstrian • 8% of businesses and 19% of residences infrastructure (trails, paths, sidewalks) have made deep energy e ciency • Community-wide mobility-sharing improvements program in place • PiE Jump Start goals have been achieved
• Urban forestry program established that • Zero-waste plan developed and adopted; includes robust tree planting, soil including a plan for a waste processing restoration, and other sustainable practices facility • Resilience is incorporated into city • Zero-waste packaging ordinance adopted planning and budget processes • Farm to school program in place
City of Northfield Climate Action Plan 63 Looking Ahead
Northfield is a welcoming community, recognized for its world-class colleges and historic riverfront downtown, dedicated to sustainably enhancing and preserving its vibrant culture, celebrated arts, strong economy, and an excellent quality of life where all can thrive. Equipped with years of experience in implementing resilience and sustainability initiatives – ranging from food waste reduction and locally-sourced food systems, to on-site renewable energy generation – the City will need to leverage this momentum to sustain, as well as to accelerate, the implementation steps outlined in this plan. Northfield cannot act in isolation. To achieve the goals set forth, strong, collaborative partnerships – continued and new – are essential. These are partnerships with community members, other levels of government, institutions, businesses, and utilities, across sectors, as well as with other peer cities.
This plan will help get the community started on its way toward achieving long-term goals, but it is intended to serve as a living document to be revisited and revised regularly to ensure the community is always pushing ahead and successfully working toward its goals.
The City has set goals to receive 100% carbon free electricity by 2030 and be 100% carbon free by 2040 while continuing to build a more resilient community for all. Fueled by the passion of Northfield residents along with City and institutional leaders, Northfield is well-equipped to take on the challenges of transitioning to a carbon free community, while setting an example that other communities can follow.
Photo Credit: Great Plains Institute
City of Northfield Draft Climate Action Plan 64 City of Northfield Greenhouse Gas Assessment
for City Operations 2015-2017
April 2019
Prepared for the City by
City of Northfield Climate Action Plan Appendix A 71 City of Northfield Greenhouse Gas Assessment City Operations, 2015 to 2017
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Mayor Rhonda Pownell
City Council David Delong Clarice Grenier Grabau Susie Nakasian Brad Ness Jessica Peterson White Erica Zweifel
This report could not have been prepared without the expert help from the following people:
City Staff David E. Bennett, P.E., Public Works Director/City Engineer Todd Frederickson, Facilities Manager Bryanna Paarmann, GIS Technician Justin Wagner, Utilities Manager
Others Eli Yewdall, Senior Program Officer, ICLEI-Local Governments for Sustainability USA Trisha Rosenfeld, Xcel Energy
Orange Environmental, LLC, [email protected], 952-905-1448
City of Northfield Climate Action Plan Appendix A 71 City of Northfield Greenhouse Gas Assessment City Operations, 2015 to 2017
Table of Contents Page Executive Summary ...... 1 1. Background and Assessment Design ...... 4 1.1. Benefits of Measurement ...... 4 1.2. Assessment Design ...... 5 1.3. Assessment Scopes ...... 5 2. Overall Results ...... 6 2.1. Sources of Greenhouse Gas Emissions ...... 6 2.2 Changes in Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Their Causes ...... 7 2.3. Energy and Process Sources of Greenhouse Gas Emissions ...... 8 3. Changes in Energy Consumption ...... 9 3.1. Electricity Consumption...... 9 3.2. Natural Gas Consumption ...... 10 4. Liquid Fuels ...... 11 5. Potable Water and Wastewater ...... 12 5.1. Potable Water ...... 12 5.2. Wastewater ...... 13 6. Changes in Major Facilities ...... 15 7. Solid Waste Management ...... 16
Tables and Figures (in order of appearance) Page Table 1: Greenhouse Gas Emissions, 2015-2017 ...... 6 Figure 1: Greenhouse Gas Emissions, 2017 ...... 6 Figure 2: Greenhouse Gas Emissions, 2015-2017 ...... 7 Figure 3: Sources of Greenhouse Gas Emission Reductions, 2015-2017 ...... 8 Table 2: Energy and Process Sources of Greenhouse Gas Emissions, 2015-2017 ...... 8 Figure 4: Energy and Process Sources of Greenhouse Gas Emissions, 2015-2017...... 8 Figure 5: Greenhouse Gas Emissions Per Btu, 2015 to 2017 ...... 9 Table 4: Electricity Consumption, 2015-2017 ...... 9 Figure 6: Electricity Consumption, 2015-2017 ...... 10 Table 5: Natural Gas Consumption, 2015-2017 ...... 10 Figure 7: Natural Gas Consumption, 2015-2017 ...... 11 Table 6: Liquid Fuel Consumption, 2015-2017 ...... 11 Figure 8: Liquid Fuel Consumption, 2015-2017 ...... 12 Table 7: Potable Water and Wastewater Volumes, 2015-2017 ...... 12 Table 8: Potable Water and Wastewater, Energy Consumption, 2015-2017 ...... 13 Figure 9: Potable Water Volumes and Electricity Efficiency, 2015-2017...... 13 Figure 10: Wastewater Volumes and Electricity Efficiency, 2015-2017 ...... 14 Table 9: Significant Changes, 2017 Compared to 2015 ...... 15 Table 10: Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Solid Waste Management ...... 16
City of Northfield Climate Action Plan Appendix A 71 City of Northfield Greenhouse Gas Assessment City Operations, 2015 to 2017
Executive Summary
Background: In late 2018, the City of Northfield (City) contracted with the Great Plains Institute, LHB Architects, and ORANGE Environmental to prepare a climate action plan for the City. ORANGE Environmental was responsible for the subject report, which is a greenhouse gas (GHG) assessment for City operations (Assessment) for a 3-year Study Period, 2015-2017. Accompanying this Assessment is an Excel spreadsheet file with scores of tables and charts that generated the data for this Assessment. The most important tables and graphs are in included in this Assessment to enable it to function as a stand-alone document. The final data has also been entered in the City’s ClearPath account.
Every city prepares annual operating and capital improvement budgets. A city operations assessment is akin to the environmental budget for the City. GHG emissions offer a unique way to compare the effectiveness of various energy and sustainability choices and their related costs. GHG emissions serve as a common denominator for the comparison of kilowatts, natural gas therms, and gallons of vehicular fuels consumed; vehicle and air miles traveled; tons of municipal solid waste processed; gallons of sanitary sewage treated; and gallons of potable water produced. Emissions are expressed in metric tonnes.1
The Assessment methodology is consistent with the Local Government Operations Protocol for the Quantification and Reporting of Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventories, produced by ICLEI— Local Governments for Sustainability (ICLEI Protocol), and The Climate Registry.
Overall results: The adjacent table lists the source categories (sectors) and the associated GHG emissions from 2015-2017, and the following pie chart illustrates those sources graphically for 2017. Wastewater treatment was the largest source, accounting for half of the total emissions. Buildings, park facilities, potable water, liquid fuels, and streetlights and signals each accounted for 9-12% of the total in 2017. Emissions associated with waste management were the smallest component at 1% of the total for City operations.
Change in emissions: All sectors experienced decreases by 2017, with the exception of solid waste management. Overall, total GHG emissions were -11% lower in 2017 than in 2015. When counting change year by year, GHG reductions totaled 491 tonnes. Because the emissions associated with wastewater treatment exceed the emissions from all other sectors combined, separate line charts below best illustrate the changes over the study period for the various sectors.
1 A metric tonne is equal to 1,000 kilograms and 2,204.6 pounds.
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City of Northfield Climate Action Plan Appendix A City of Northfield Greenhouse Gas Assessment City Operations, 2015 to 2017
Sources for reduced emissions: The substantial drop in wastewater treatment emissions in 2017 equaled 30% of the total reductions from all of the sources (refer to table and pie chart below). The table adds another factor; in fact, it is the main reason that accounts for the -11% reduction in GHG emissions: Xcel Energy’s reduced emission factor for electricity. Xcel’s emission factor has continually decreased for more than a decade and was -9% lower in 2017 than in 2015. Since electricity consumption is the largest source of emissions (about 70% over the 3 study years), Xcel’s -9% emission reduction played a crucial role. The table shows that over the Study Period, it was responsible for more than half of the reduced GHG tonnes. Greenhouse Gas Emissions, 2015-2017
Sources for Greenhouse Gas Reductions, 2015-2017
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City of Northfield Climate Action Plan Appendix A City of Northfield Greenhouse Gas Assessment City Operations, 2015 to 2017
Buildings, park facilities, and potable water production accounted for the remaining 18% of the reductions over the Study Period (refer to pie chart above).
The adjacent table lists the changes in energy consumption from 2015 to 2017 for major facilities.
Liquid fuels: The adjacent line chart illustrates the change in consumption over the Study Period for diesel and gasoline fuel consumption as well as their associated GHG emissions. (Note that GHG emissions are shown in a red line based on the right-hand vertical scale.) Total consumption and GHG emissions were significantly higher in 2016 compared to 2015 (16% higher) but then dropped back down in 2017 to slightly below the 2015 levels.
Waste management: The GHG emissions associated with the management of the solid waste generated by City operations varied slightly over the study period and averaged about 37 tonnes for all City operations. These emissions are considered Scope 3 emissions and according to the ICLEI Protocol, can’t be counted with the Scope 1 and 2 emissions.
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City of Northfield Climate Action Plan Appendix A City of Northfield Greenhouse Gas Assessment City Operations, 2015 to 2017
1. Background and Assessment Design
In late 2018, the City of Northfield (City) contracted with the Great Plains Institute, LHB Architects, and ORANGE Environmental to prepare a climate action plan for the City. ORANGE Environmental was responsible for the subject report, which is a greenhouse gas (GHG) assessment for City operations (Assessment) for a 3-year Study Period, 2015-2017. Accompanying this Assessment is an Excel spreadsheet file with scores of tables and charts that generated the data for this Assessment. The most important tables and graphs are in included in this Assessment to enable it to function as a stand-alone document. The final data has also been entered in the City’s ClearPath account.2
1.1. Benefits of Measurement: As described by Osborne and Gaebler in their book, Reinventing Government (1992), “If you don’t measure results, you can’t tell success from failure. If you cannot see success, you cannot reward it. If you can’t see failure, you can’t correct it.”
Every city prepares annual operating and capital improvement budgets. A city operations assessment is akin to the environmental budget for the City. GHG emissions offer a unique way to compare the effectiveness of various energy and sustainability choices and their related costs. GHG emissions serve as a common denominator for the comparison of kilowatts, natural gas therms, and gallons of vehicular fuels consumed; vehicle and air miles traveled; tons of municipal solid waste processed; gallons of sanitary sewage treated; and gallons of potable water produced. Emissions are expressed in metric tonnes.3
This Assessment will: • Inform the analyses, plans, and policy recommendations that comprise the other components of the City’s climate action plan. • Highlight opportunities to save resources and money. • Provide baselines for estimating the effectiveness of many sustainability measures. • Enable comparison with future inventories and peer cities. • Improve the City’s competitiveness for federal and state funding opportunities that are targeted to cities that have taken steps to measure and improve their energy efficiency and reduce their carbon footprints. • Assist in promoting public understanding of the City’s effects on climate change. • Serve as a model for other cities.
Experience with prior assessments indicates that important benefits often result from the preparation process as well. It can spark common interest among the involved city staff in understanding why energy consumption fluctuates from year to year; it can
2 From the website: “ClearPath™ is the leading online software platform for completing greenhouse gas inventories, forecasts, climate action plans, and monitoring at the community-wide or government-operations scales.” http://icleiusa.org/clearpath/ 3 A metric tonne is equal to 1,000 kilograms and 2,204.6 pounds.
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City of Northfield Climate Action Plan Appendix A City of Northfield Greenhouse Gas Assessment City Operations, 2015 to 2017
identify meters that are no longer in use but still costing fees (“orphan meters”); it can encourage the sharing of ideas among different departments, and it can foster a common desire to reduce emissions.
1.2. Assessment Design: The Assessment methodology is consistent with the Local Government Operations Protocol for the Quantification and Reporting of Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventories, produced by ICLEI— Local Governments for Sustainability (ICLEI Protocol), and The Climate Registry.4 Consistent with the ICLEI Protocol, greenhouse gases (GHG) are expressed in metric tons (tonnes), which equal 1,000 kilograms, or 2,204.6 pounds. It includes all pertinent and available data for the study years chosen by City staff: 2015, 2016, and 2017.
The source information for the tables and charts included in the body of the report can be found in the spreadsheets that have been provided to the City as a technical supplement to this Assessment. City staff are the source for data that pertains to City operations unless otherwise noted. All of the sources of data for the Assessment are transparent, fully identified, verifiable, and reliable. They consist of City records and staff reports; utility records and reports to the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission; internationally recognized methodologies and published scientific papers regarding the calculation of GHG emissions; federal, state, and county agencies (USDOT, USEPA, MNDOT, MPCA, Metropolitan Council, Metropolitan Airports Commission, Dakota County); and other published sources.
1.3. Assessment Scopes: The ICLEI Protocol categorizes GHG emission sources into 3 groups called scopes as follows:
• Scope 1: All direct GHG emissions from City operations such as consumption of liquid fuels in City vehicles, natural gas consumption in City buildings, and process emissions from wastewater treatment.
• Scope 2: Indirect GHG emissions associated with the consumption of purchased electricity from Xcel Energy and the solar garden that provide power.
• Scope 3: All other indirect emissions not covered in Scope 2, e.g., employee commute and business travel. At the direction of City staff, this Assessment does not include any Scope 3 emissions.
4 The greenhouse gases of carbon dioxide (CO2), nitrous oxide (N2O), and methane (CH4) are aggregated and reported as carbon dioxide equivalents, a commonly used unit that combines greenhouse gases of differing impact on the earth’s climate into one weighted unit. The use of the term greenhouse gasses herein implies the carbon dioxide equivalents of these 3 key greenhouse gases. The source information for the tables and charts included in the body of the report can be found in the detailed tables that have been provided to the City as a technical supplement to this Assessment. City staff provided all data that pertains to City operations unless otherwise noted. Energy consumption data for City buildings and facilities are from Xcel Energy and the Minnesota Buildings, Benchmarks, and Beyond (B3) Program when available.
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City of Northfield Climate Action Plan Appendix A City of Northfield Greenhouse Gas Assessment City Operations, 2015 to 2017
2. Overall Results
2.1. Sources of Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Table 1 lists the source categories (sectors) and the associated GHG emissions, and Figure 1 illustrates the sources graphically for 2017. Wastewater treatment was the largest source, accounting for half of the total emissions. Buildings, park facilities, potable water, liquid fuels, and streetlights and signals each accounted for 9-12% of the total in 2017. Emissions associated with waste management were the smallest component at 1% of the total.
Table 1: Greenhouse Gas Emissions, 2015-2017 (tonnes)
Figure 1 Greenhouse Gas Emissions, 2017
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City of Northfield Climate Action Plan Appendix A City of Northfield Greenhouse Gas Assessment City Operations, 2015 to 2017
2.2. Changes in Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Their Causes
Table 1 and Figure 2 show the change in GHG emissions over the 3-year Study Period. Because the emissions associated with wastewater treatment exceed the emissions from all other sectors combined, separate line charts best illustrate the changes over the study period for the various sectors. Overall, total GHG emissions were 491 tonnes less in 2017 than in 2015, a reduction of -11% (refer to the green highlighted cells in Table 1).
Table 2 shows that all sectors had emission reductions (excepting solid waste management) that contributed to the overall -11% reduction. However, the substantial drop in wastewater treatment emissions in 2017 equaled almost 1/3 of the total reductions from all of the sources (Figure 3). Subsequent sections will explore these changes in more detail.
The table in Figure 3 adds another factor; in fact, it is the main reason that accounts for the -11% reduction in GHG emissions: Xcel Energy’s reduced emission factor for electricity. Xcel’s emission factor has continually decreased for more than a decade and was -9% lower in 2017 than in 2015. Since electricity consumption is the largest source of emissions (about 70% over the 3 years), Xcel’s -9% emission reduction plays a crucial role. Figure 3 shows that over the Study Period, it was responsible for more than half of the reduced GHG tonnes.
As Figure 3 shows, wastewater treatment accounted for the second highest portion of the GHG reductions, 30% of the total. Buildings, park facilities, and potable water production accounted for the remaining 18% of the reductions over the Study Period.
Figure 2: Greenhouse Gas Emissions, 2015-2017
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City of Northfield Climate Action Plan Appendix A City of Northfield Greenhouse Gas Assessment City Operations, 2015 to 2017
Figure 3: Sources of Greenhouse Gas Reductions, 2015-2017
2.3. Energy and Process Sources of Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Table 2 and Figure 4 arrange the data according to the energy and other sources of GHG emissions. They demonstrate the importance of electricity; it was the source of about 70% of the emissions over the 3-year Study Period. Process emissions refer to fugitive emissions of nitrogen oxides during the treatment of wastewater.
Table 2: Energy and Process Sources of Greenhouse Gas Emission, 2015-2017 (tonnes)
Figure 4: Energy and Process Sources of Greenhouse Gas Emissions, 2015-2017
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City of Northfield Climate Action Plan Appendix A City of Northfield Greenhouse Gas Assessment City Operations, 2015 to 2017
The table and chart illustrate the important -14% decline in emissions that resulted from reduced electricity consumption and Xcel’s -9% reduction in its emission factor. Natural gas consumption declined by -7% while the other sources were largely unchanged.
Figure 5 further illustrates the importance of electricity’s impact on GHG emissions. When compared on a per-Btu basis, a Btu of electricity from Xcel’s NSP system results in more than twice as many GHG emissions as a Btu from natural gas consumption. Obviously, improvements to electrical efficiency generate the greatest impact on GHG reductions.
Figure 5: Greenhouse Gas Emissions Per Btu, 2015-2017
3. Changes in Energy Consumption: This section will take a closer look at the factors that changed energy consumption.
3.1. Electricity Consumption
As mentioned above, electricity consumption is the major source of GHG emissions (about 70% over the Study Period), and reduced electricity consumption is the second most important factor that resulted in the overall GHG reduction after Xcel’s reduced emission factor. Electricity consumption was 4% higher in 2016 than in 2015 but then decreased by -9% in 2017. Compared to 2015, consumption in 2017 was -6% lower.
Table 4: Electricity Consumption, 2015-2017 (kWh)
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City of Northfield Climate Action Plan Appendix A City of Northfield Greenhouse Gas Assessment City Operations, 2015 to 2017
Table 4 and Figure 6 show that the wastewater treatment facilities were not only the largest consumer of electricity (actually more than the other 4 sectors combined), but also responsible for the greatest decline in electricity consumption in 2017 compared to 2015 (-10%). As with Figure 2 above, Figure 6 shows wastewater treatment on a separate chart because it is so out of scale with the other sectors. (Note that the vertical scale on the left chart does not go to zero in order to highlight the changes in consumption.)
Figure 6: Electricity Consumption, 2015-2017 (kWh)
Consumption for the potable water facilities was -6% lower in 2017 than in 2015, and buildings and park facilities used more electricity in 2017.
3.2. Natural Gas Consumption
Table 5 and Figure 7 describe natural gas consumption over the Study Period. Consumption decreased slightly in 2016 and 2017 compared to the prior years (-4% and -3% respectively). Consumption (and GHG emissions) was lower in 2017 compared to the 2005 Base Year (-7% fewer therms and GHG tonnes, Table 1).
Table 5: Natural Gas Consumption, 2015-2017 (therms)
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City of Northfield Climate Action Plan Appendix A City of Northfield Greenhouse Gas Assessment City Operations, 2015 to 2017
Figure 7: Natural Gas Consumption, 2015-2017 (therms)
Buildings and the park facilities sectors had the largest reductions (-26% and -28% respectively). Consumption for the wastewater treatment facilities increased both in 2016 and in 2017 over the 2015 level. Section 5 looks more closely at why.
4. Liquid Fuels
Table 6 and Figure 8 illustrate the change in consumption over the Study Period for diesel and gasoline fuel consumption as well as their associated GHG emissions. (Note that GHG emissions are shown in a red line based on the right-hand scale.) Total consumption was significantly higher in 2016 compared to 2015 (16% higher) but then dropped back down in 2017 to slightly below the 2015 level. The reason for the overall increase was because diesel consumption in 2016 was more than double (121% higher) 2015 levels, but gasoline consumption dropped by -20% over the period. GHG emissions reflected these changes with a 16% increase in 2016 compared to 2015 and then a drop in 2017 back to just below the 2015 level.
Table 6: Liquid Fuel Consumption, 2015-2017
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City of Northfield Climate Action Plan Appendix A City of Northfield Greenhouse Gas Assessment City Operations, 2015 to 2017
Figure 8: Liquid Fuel Consumption and Greenhouse Gas Emissions
5. Potable Water and Wastewater
Table 7 shows the volumes of potable water and wastewater the City manages.
Table 7: Potable Water and Wastewater Volumes, 2015-2017
5.1. Potable Water
Table 7 and 8 and Figure 9 show the following as regards potable water: • Volumes: Table 7 shows that both on an absolute and per-capita basis, the City’s usage of potable water has declined since 2015. Volumes in 2017 were about 9% lower in 2017 than in 2015. • Energy consumption: In terms of Btus, both electricity and natural gas consumption were lower in 2017 than in 2015 (-6% and -4% respectively). • Energy efficiency: The facilities produced -9% less water in 2017 compared to 2015, and a Btu of energy produced -4% fewer gallons in 2017 than in 2015. Figure 9 illustrates this change in production efficiency (note that gallons per kBtu of electricity are based on the right-hand vertical scale). Since the City does not have a water treatment plant, reduced economies of scale from fixed energy demands are not a significant factor.
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City of Northfield Climate Action Plan Appendix A City of Northfield Greenhouse Gas Assessment City Operations, 2015 to 2017
• GHG: Emissions were -13% lower in 2017 compared to 2015. The reduced water production and accompanying reduced energy consumption plus the lowered electricity emission rate are the reasons. Potable water production accounted for 11% of the total GHG reductions from 2015-2017 (Table 1).
Table 8: Potable Water and Wastewater, Energy Consumption, 2015-2017
Figure 9: Potable Water, Volumes and Electricity Efficiency, 2015-2017
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City of Northfield Climate Action Plan Appendix A City of Northfield Greenhouse Gas Assessment City Operations, 2015 to 2017
5.2. Wastewater: The following describes the findings regarding wastewater treatment, and Table 7 and 8 and Figure 10 illustrate changes over the Study Period: • Volumes: In addition to City wastewater, the treatment plant also processes wastewater from Carlton College and the City of Dundas, which total about 7% of the total amounts treated. Volumes from all 3 sources increased from 2015-2017, with the total being 20% higher in 2017 compared to 2015. On a per-capita bass, wastewater just from the City was 21% higher in 2017 than in 2015. • Energy consumption and efficiency: Wastewater treatment is heavily reliant on electricity (about 75% of its GHG emissions) and it is, by far, the largest source of emissions. The facility treated 20% more wastewater in 2017 compared to 2015 yet electricity consumption was -10% less. However, natural gas consumption was 9% higher. To put it in terms of energy, a Btu of electricity treated 34% more gallons in 2017 compared to 2015, and a Btu of natural gas treated 11% more gallons. Combined, a Btu of energy treated 26% more gallons. • Fixed costs: Because most of the HVAC energy (heating ventilation, air conditioning) needs of the water treatment plants are fixed, there are increased economies of scale for treating a larger amount of wastewater. • Summary of change: Put differently, the 34% increase in electrical efficiency affected 62% of the total energy consumption in the facility in 2017 and resulted in a 26% increase in overall efficiency. • Facility changes: A new ultraviolet disinfection system was installed for the 2017 disinfection season (April 1- October 31). This is a major electrical consumer. • GHG: Emissions were -12% lower in 2017 compared to 2015. The reduced electricity consumption, increased energy efficiency, and the lowered electricity emission rate are the reasons. Wastewater treatment accounted for 28% of the total GHG reductions from 2015-2017 (Figure 3).
Figure 10: Wastewater Volumes and Electricity Consumption, 2015-2017
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City of Northfield Climate Action Plan Appendix A City of Northfield Greenhouse Gas Assessment City Operations, 2015 to 2017
6. Changes in Major Facilities
The following section looks at 9 facilities that were relatively large consumers of energy, and Table 9 shows the changes in 2017 relative to 2015 (wastewater treatment and potable water are addressed in Section 5).
Table 9: Significant Changes, 2017 Compared to 2015
• City Hall: A boiler was repaired in 2016. Compared to 2015, electricity consumption was -11% lower in 2017 and natural gas consumption was -55% lower. As a result, the number of GHG tonnes reduced (-57 tonnes) was only exceeded by the wastewater treatment plant.
• Memorial Park: The facility used -15% less electricity in 2017 compared to 2015 and -51% less natural gas. The reduced electricity emission factor combined with the increase in energy efficiency resulted in GHG emissions that were lower by -34 tonnes in 2017 compared to 2015.
• Streetlights: Electricity consumption was stable throughout the Study Period (under 1% larger in 2017 than in 2015) but the reduced electricity emission factor resulted in GHG emissions that were -9% lower in 2017.
• Police Department: The facility used -3% less electricity in 2017 compared to 2015 and -21% less natural gas. This improved energy efficiency and the reduced electric emission factor resulted in -23 fewer tonnes of GHG.
• Public Works garage: There was increased reliance in 2015 on radiant heaters (fueled by natural gas) instead of less efficient air handlers. The facility used -1% less electricity in 2017 compared to 2015 and -15% less natural gas. This improved energy efficiency and the reduced electric emission factor resulted in -10 fewer tonnes of GHG.
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City of Northfield Climate Action Plan Appendix A City of Northfield Greenhouse Gas Assessment City Operations, 2015 to 2017
• Ice Arena: The facility used 6% more electricity in 2017 compared to 2015 but -6% less natural gas. The reduced electricity emission factor overcame the increase in electricity consumption such that GHH emissions were lower by -10 tonnes in 2017 compared to 2015. There was a virtually complete change-out of indoor and outdoor lighting to LED in 2018.
• Liquor store: Electricity consumption was stable, only -1% lower in 2017 than in 2015, but natural gas was 10% higher. The reduced electricity emission factor resulted in -5 fewer GHG tonnes emitted in 2017 than in 2015. There was a change-out of lighting to LED in the coolers and some ceilings.
• Library: The renovation in 2015 included a 1,000 sq. ft. expansion and improvements to HVAC using a heat pump system. From August 2015 boiler did not run during some of that time. The larger size resulted in an increase in electricity consumption (60% higher in 2017 than in 2015) and natural gas consumption (47% higher). As a result, 27 additional GHG tonnes were emitted in 2017 compared to 2015.
7. Solid Waste Management
Table 10 lists the GHG emissions associated with solid waste management. The citywide GHG assessment is the source for the City operations data. The assumption is that a job at the City will generate approximately the same emissions as the citywide average-per-job rate. The table shows that emissions varied slightly over the study period and averaged about 37 tonnes for all City operations.
These emissions are considered Scope 3 emissions and according to the ICLEI Protocol, can’t be counted with the other emissions (Scope 1 and 2).
Table 10: Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Solid Waste Management
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City of Northfield Climate Action Plan Appendix A Appendix B Climate Resilience Assessment Climate Adaptation and Resilience
Climate change is having demonstrable impact on the Earth’s natural systems and Northfield must prepare for and adjust to these changes. Minnesota has begun to see some of the most dramatic effects from a changing climate. Average annual temperatures are rising at a faster rate than most other parts of the country. Our winters are warming faster than average, especially overnight lows. Heavy precipitation events are more common throughout the state, with both annual precipitation level averages and the occurrence of mega-rain events on the rise — Northfield has seen two major flooding events since 2012. The City of Northfield recognizes the need to adapt to changes that are already occurring by improving the resilience of all residents, as well as the City’s built and natural infrastructure.
Resilience describes the ability of an individual or community to respond, adapt, and be minimally impacted by a changing climate. This Resilience Assessment was developed for the City of Northfield as part of its Climate Action Plan (CAP). Sections of this report are included in the CAP, while this document contains the complete assessment. This document analyzes Northfield's resilience through two sections. The first is an overview of anticipated climate hazards in Northfield. The second is an assessment of Northfield’s ability to adapt, react, and be resilient to these climate hazards.
Climate change will have far-reaching effects that will impact communities, infrastructure, resources, and individuals differently. Assessing where and what a City and community’s vulnerabilities to climate hazards are will allow for proactive decision-making and intervention to enhance the safety and resilience of all Northfield residents.
Photo Credit: Carleton College
City of Northfield Climate Action Plan | Resilience Assessment | Appendix B 2 Local Climate Hazards As greenhouse gas levels in the atmosphere continue to rise, temperatures will increase, ecological functions will be altered, and precipitation and weather patterns will change. In 2018, the Climate & Health Program of the Minnesota Department of Health conducted a study analyzing current climate trends and examining climate projection data to forecast temperature and precipitation trends through 2075. The study found two major climate trends happening now and expected to continue in Southeast Minnesota: an increase in winter and summer temperatures, and an increase in heavy precipitation events, with longer periods of dry spells between.1
The increase in winter and summer temperatures is well documented: average winter low temperatures are rising, and winters are warming nearly 13 times faster than summers. The Minnesota Department of Health projects the average maximum summer temperature to increase by 7.7°F (4.2°C) through 2075 compared to 1981 under a business-as-usual scenario. The same projection forecasts a 9.1°F (5° C) increase in average winter minimum temperatures through 2075. Warmer temperatures have direct and indirect effects on climate, ecology, and people, further outlined below.
Warming temperatures also cause more extreme and variable precipitation patterns through an increase in evaporation and the increased capacity for warmer air to hold water vapor. More moisture in the atmosphere then produces more intense precipitation events. The graphic below provides a visualization of climate change impacts in Minnesota and some human health effects associated with these changes. This graphic does not represent all impacts associated with climate change, but rather a summary of major impacts associated with climate change.
Figure 1. Climate impacts on health and well-being. Adapted from Minnesota Department of Health, “Minnesota Climate and Health Profile Report Summary,” 2016.
1 Minnesota Climate & Health Program, Planning for Climate & Health Impacts in Southeast Minnesota, https://www.health.state.mn.us/communities/environment/climate/docs/hsem_region1.pdf (accessed June 2019).
City of Northfield Climate Action Plan | Resilience Assessment | Appendix B 3 In 2014, the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) completed a statewide climate change vulnerability assessment. In its analysis, MDH identified five major climate hazards of increasing concern in Minnesota as our climate changes: extreme heat events, flooding and flash flooding, air pollution, vector- borne disease, and drought.2 Additionally, in its own vulnerability assessment, the Metropolitan Council identified extreme weather as an additional, separate hazard, encompassing snow events, storms (rain, hail, etc.), and other extreme weather events. These climate hazards provide a lens through which to examine resources and populations that are more vulnerable to climate change, and the geographic vulnerabilities of both. Each of these six events has been ranked as having a high, moderate, or low likelihood of occurring in Northfield when compared to the rest of the state of Minnesota in the MDH Vulnerability Assessment, as listed below. These indicators are in comparison to the rest of the State, rather than an indicator of their general likelihood to occur in Northfield. HAZARD DESCRIPTION Extreme Heat Extreme heat is measured by number of days of heat advisories and excessive heat warnings. By mid-century, projections indicate 5-15 more days with a maximum temperature above 95° F (35°C).
Extreme heat is moderately likely to occur in Northfield when compared to the rest of Minnesota. Flooding & Flash With increasing precipitation events, models predict increasing frequency and intensity of flooding and flash flooding events. Geographies specifically Flooding vulnerable to flooding and flash flooding have seen increases in mega-rain events in recent years.
Flooding and flash flooding are highly likely to occur in Northfield when compared to the rest of Minnesota. Air Pollution Climate change causes temperature and precipitation changes that change air quality in a variety of ways. • Particulate Matter: Dust from industry, particulates from fossil fuel combustion, and air stagnation from wildfires in other parts of the country can cause increased particulate matter of various size. • Allergens: Lengthening allergy season can create more potent allergens. • Ground-level Ozone: The natural emission of Volatile Organic Compound(s) (or VOCs) from plants & vegetation increase as temperatures and sunlight increases. Upon release into the atmosphere, VOCs react with nitrogen oxides (NOx) to create ozone molecules.
Air pollution is highly likely to occur in Northfield when compared to the rest of Minnesota. Extreme Weather Extreme weather events such as thunderstorms, tornados, and hail events are less certain to occur because of climate change than warmer temperatures and increased precipitation themselves. Damage caused by these storms may be distinct from damage caused by flooding.
Extreme weather is moderately likely to occur in Northfield when compared to the rest of Minnesota. Vector-Borne Disease Climate changes cause ecological changes. Warmer weather facilitates a thriving tick and mosquito populations, which has the potential to carry and transmit diseases, like Lyme or West Nile Virus.
Vector-borne disease is less likely to occur in Northfield when compared to the rest of Minnesota. Drought Decreases in water can cause drought. Although climate change can cause increased frequency and intensity of rain events, the precipitation events also become less predictable and more variable, with potential of increased dry spells in between major events.
Drought is less likely to occur in Northfield when compared to the rest of Minnesota.
Table 1. Likelihood of climate hazards in Northfield. Adapted from: Minnesota Department of Health, "Minnesota Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment 2014," 2014.
2 Minnesota Climate & Health Program, Environmental Impacts Analysis Unit, Minnesota Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment 2014, https://www.health.state.mn.us/communities/environment/climate/ docs/mnclimvulnreport.pdf (accessed June 2019)
City of Northfield Climate Action Plan | Resilience Assessment | Appendix B 4 Resilience Assessment Resilience is measured by the strengths and vulnerabilities of a community, including population, built infrastructure, and natural infrastructure. Understanding a community’s resilience to climate change requires an analysis of existing community strengths: aspects of infrastructure and community character that make a City more able to swiftly and safely adapt to a changing climate. At the same time, to improve its resilience, a community must know what its vulnerabilities are.
Vulnerabilities to climate hazards are a result of a confluence of factors including geographic location, pre- existing characteristics, and situational context. This assessment looks at the strengths and vulnerabilities of natural infrastructure, built infrastructure, and community population.
People are impacted differently by climate hazards. The ability to recover from a climate event like a major flood may depend on a variety factors. Vulnerability in populations can be assessed through inherent and situational factors. Situational factors mean that an individual may only be vulnerable at the moment of a climate hazard, rather than inherently more vulnerable to impacts from climate events. For example, preexisting health conditions are likely to make an individual more inherently vulnerable to certain climate hazards, whereas vulnerability can also be temporary and dynamic, as is the case with certain health conditions, pregnancy, and homelessness. Some opportunities for increased population resilience focus on individual action, while others focus on community-wide strategies to increase resilience.
Built infrastructure can also be vulnerable to climate hazards. Its vulnerability may damage the built environment like City assets, private buildings, and the well-being of the community. Built infrastructure includes buildings, transportation infrastructure (roads and bridges, public transportation, and active mobility), water infrastructure (stormwater, drinking water, and wastewater), and critical infrastructure (back-up generation facilities and energy infrastructure).
Natural infrastructure like trees, native plants, water, and ecosystems are simultaneously susceptible to climate hazards and crucial to help improve the resiliency of the City. For example, saplings in a flood zone may be vulnerable to damage from flooding, but increased tree cover community wide will sequester carbon, increase soil health, and provide shade during heat waves. This analysis focuses on trees and native plants, water supply and quality, and parks and natural spaces in Northfield.
The following analysis examines vulnerabilities, strengths, and opportunities for increased resilience in the face of the six climate hazards identified previously.
City of Northfield Climate Action Plan | Resilience Assessment | Appendix B 5 Climate Vulnerability The resiliency of a population depends on individual and community-wide strengths and vulnerabilities; a community is only as strong as its most vulnerable. Resilience is a measure of how an individual may be impacted by different climate hazards and their ability to recover. Population resiliency and vulnerability is dynamic and may change depending on context and time. This population resilience assessment examines a variety of demographic and situational factors, the impact of climate hazards, and opportunities for increased resilience. The below table displays each climate hazard anticipated in Northfield, that may be vulnerable to those hazards, and the potential impacts. HAZARD VULNERABLE POPULATIONS IMPACTS Extreme Heat • Older adults - particularly those living alone • Heat-related illness • Young children and babies • Heat stress • People experiencing homelessness • Heat stroke • People living in poverty - particularly those without access to air conditioning • Dehydration • People of color • Cardiovascular health • People with preexisting health conditions • Respiratory illness • Outdoor workers Flooding & Flash • Older adults - particularly those living alone • Drowning, injury Flooding • Young children and babies • Mold or waterborne disease • People with preexisting physical or mental health conditions • Economic loss • People living in poverty • Property damage • People with limited English proficiency • Travel limitations • People with limited mobility options • Food Insecurity • Outdoor workers Air Pollution • Young children • Severe allergies • Older adults • Cardiovascular health • People of color • Asthma attacks • People with preexisting cardiovascular or respiratory diseases • Respiratory illness • Outdoor workers Extreme Weather • Older adults • Property damage • Residents with limited English proficiency • Injury/death • Residents with mobility limitations • Travel limitations • Low-income residents: renters, homeowners, folks experiencing homelessness • Economic losses Vector-Borne • Young children • Lyme disease Disease • People with weakened immune systems • Human anaplasmosis • People who live near or spend time in wooded areas • West Nile Virus
Drought • Older adults • Respiratory illness and other illness • Young children • Property damage • People with respiratory diseases • Economic losses • People of color • Food Insecurity
Table 2. Climate hazard impact on population. Source: Minnesota Department of Health, "Minnesota Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment 2014," 2014.
City of Northfield Climate Action Plan | Resilience Assessment | Appendix B 6 Population Factors Population vulnerability to climate hazards is impacted by where people live, the buildings in which they live and work, and demographic factors. Vulnerability and resilience are dynamic metrics and should not be taken only individually by demographic categories, but rather considered as indicators for potential impacts from climate hazards. Understanding residents’ needs can help the City to better direct its resources to both help prepare vulnerable residents for climate hazards and to provide support in the aftermath of a major event.
This analysis is based on a vulnerability assessment completed at the county-level by the Minnesota Department of Health, the corresponding demographic data provided by the U.S. Census American Community Survey, and county-level data regarding individual health related to disabilities and hospital visits for asthma. Further information was provided through focus group discussions with community organizations working with the Latinx residents of Northfield. Priority areas identified through those focus group discussions included concerns and opportunities related to housing (quality, access, affordability), mobility (transportation options and access), and health (food security, air quality, asthma and allergies). The following section describes existing demographic data, followed by an assessment of strengths, vulnerabilities, and opportunities.
Age The age of resident is an indicator of potential vulnerability to climate hazards. Those under the age of 5 (4.6% of population) and over the age of 65 (14.2% of population) are more likely to be vulnerable to various climate hazards largely due to physiological differences and potential reliance on others for safety and care. These age cohorts are also more susceptible to extreme weather impacts due to reliance on others for evacuation or mobility needs. Young children, under the age of 5, are particularly vulnerable to heat-related illnesses and deaths, as well as more susceptible to air pollution related health impacts and vector-borne illnesses. Young children tend to spend more time outdoors engaging in activities that increase their breathing rate.
Children who live or play near heavily trafficked roads are most susceptible to hazards Percent of population above 65 & living alone from poor air quality. Additionally, because children are likely to be outside for longer periods there is a greater chance for exposure to ticks and mosquitoes that carry diseases. Children are less likely, for instance, to check for ticks after playing in wooded or grassy areas.
Older residents over the age of 65 have the highest rates of heat-related illnesses and fatalities, mostly due to physiological changes that affect the ability to control body temperature. Because of this, they may be more vulnerable to extreme heat events, compounded by existing cardiovascular or respiratory diseases. These same physiological qualities result in increased vulnerability to flooding, particularly for those living alone or who require assistance to evacuate or receive care throughout the flood event, as well as extreme heat. Figure 2. Source: U.S. Census Bureau; American Community Survey, 2013 - 2017 5-Year Estimates.
City of Northfield Climate Action Plan | Resilience Assessment | Appendix B 7 Income & Housing Low-income residents may be more susceptible to climate hazards as they Percent of population living may lack the resources needed to afford adequate housing and may have below the poverty threshold limited or no access to a vehicle. In Northfield, the median household income is $62,032, with 11.7% of residents living below the poverty line and 31.3% qualifying for heating assistance. In addition, 5.4% of residents do not have access to a vehicle.
Poor housing quality can impact resident health and increase financial stress. For example, a home with little insulation and air sealing will result in colder indoor air temperatures in the winter and warmer in the summer; poor ventilation or water infiltration can cause mold spores to form, leading to respiratory illness. Often, homes in poor condition will cost more to heat and cool, increasing the energy burden of residents. A more energy efficient home protects inhabitants from extreme weather such as extreme heat, and helps to lower energy use, increasing grid resilience as electricity demand decreases.
Access to health or home insurance is an indicator for how well people can respond to damage from climate hazards. Low-income residents living in rental or mobile housing may be less likely to recover from extreme weather events and flooding events that cause property damage. Flooding is more likely to negatively impact houses that are poorly built. Community members experiencing homelessness or transitional housing are particularly susceptible to damage and health effects from these climate hazards as they may lack resources to protect themselves and their property from damage. Figure 3. Vulnerable populations by income. Source: U.S. Census Bureau; Through focus group discussions, it was revealed that some Northfield American Community Survey, 2013 - 2017 5-Year Estimates; all estimates community members are forced to run water continuously during the coldest are normalized by census block population. Map generated by Jessi Wyatt. days of winter to avoid freezing pipes — a weatherization and efficiency issue that has a noticeable impact community-wide water consumption, as well as an added cost burden to those residents, demonstrated in the Local Water Supply Plan.
Housing location can also increase or decrease vulnerability. There are 29 homes in Northfield that have flood insurance through the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). Between 1998 and 2016, $2.32 million have been paid out in claims for damage to structures and belongings from flooding in Northfield.
City of Northfield Climate Action Plan | Resilience Assessment | Appendix B 8 Language & Race Residents with limited English proficiency may be more vulnerable to climate hazards, Population by Race (non-white) primarily due to barriers in understanding and/or receiving emergency response or evacuation information. The most commonly spoken language besides English in Northfield is Spanish. 2.9% of Northfield residents speak English “less than very well,” according to the 2017 5-year American Community Survey.
Race can be an indicator of vulnerability to climate hazards. In Minnesota, not all residents have benefitted equally from environmental improvements. The routing of roadways, siting polluting industries near communities of color, and limiting access to resources have created inequities that impact health and economic mobility. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency found that people of color are more likely to be exposed to more pollution than middle and upper income white residents; are more vulnerable to health impacts from pollution and experience greater incidences of disease and death, often due to underlying health disparities; and that climate change disproportionately threatens vulnerable groups, amplifying existing economic and health challenges .
According to the U.S. Census, 88.5% of Northfield residents identify as white, with Latinx- identified population as the next largest at 8.7%. Figure 4 shows Northfield’s population by race. The areas of the community where 30% or more of the population is non-white overlaps with the map in Figure 3 (previous page) that shows that the highest concentration of poverty in the same area, indicating that residents in those neighborhoods may be more vulnerable to climate hazards as compared to other areas of the community. Figure 4. Vulnerable populations by race. Source: U.S. Census Bureau; American Community Survey, 2013 - 2017 5-Year Estimates; all estimates are normalized by census block population. Map generated by Jessi Wyatt. Food Security Access to healthy and affordable food is a critical issue for low- and moderate-income families. Food security measures the availability and ability to access food. Food secure households have both the ability to afford healthy food and live in close proximity, or can travel further, to buy local food. Food insecure homes may not have access to healthy food due to an inability to afford it or complicated by how far they may need to travel to access it. In Rice County, 9% of the population are considered food insecure. While there are more healthy food options available within Northfield compared to surrounding communities, those options are not always affordable to all residents.
City of Northfield Climate Action Plan | Resilience Assessment | Appendix B 9 Ability Level & Health Residents with limited mobility or pre-existing medical conditions may be more vulnerable to climate hazards. Residents with respiratory illnesses are more susceptible to health issues associated with poor air quality days, exposure to allergens from pollen, and exposure to mold.
In Rice County, 673 people visited the emergency room for asthma-related illnesses between 2013-2015. The rate of emergency department visits was 34.4 in Rice County, compared to 37.6 statewide for 2013-2015. The rate is a ratio of the number of emergency room visits divided by the number of people at risk in a population. Hospitalization rates for pulmonary disease (age-adjusted) are 19.8 in Rice County and 14.6 statewide.
Residents in wheelchairs and with other mobility limitations are vulnerable to health impacts in recovering from hazards including extreme weather and floods, as they may have more difficulty evacuating or avoiding sidewalks that are flooded. Disability status is measured through the American Community Survey and encompasses many forms of disability. Statewide, 11.2% of the population has a disability and in Northfield that rate is 7.5%.
Population Strengths and Opportunities While individual factors can compound situational or inherent vulnerability to a changing climate, there are also strengths and opportunities associated with each metric that works toward mitigating and responding to inherent and social vulnerabilities to climate change.
Strengths • Northfield has a moderately high livability index score as measured by the AARP, which accounts for a variety of factors such as environment, health, civic engagement, and housing for aging populations. This score indicates that the infrastructure to support older populations in Northfield is generally available and in good condition
• Many organizations in Northfield serve Spanish-speaking community members, including Greenvale Community School, a bilingual elementary school serving many of Northfield’s students and families. Northfield has many community groups that serve the Latinx community and that focus on decreasing economic and educational disparities among the Latinx population
• Rice County has lower air pollution levels than most other geographies in Minnesota due to its distance from heavy-industry metropolitan areas and low likelihood of wildfires
• The City and County are well-prepared to respond to emergencies, utilizing City emergency operation procedures and the Rice County All Hazard Mitigation Plan
Vulnerabilities The greatest vulnerabilities for Northfield residents are at intersections of two or more indicators described above. For example, those who are low- income and living in poor housing quality may be at greater risk during and after an extreme weather event. Vulnerability would increase if there are additional factors, like limited mobility or other physical limitations.
City of Northfield Climate Action Plan | Resilience Assessment | Appendix B 10 Opportunities • Northfield has many opportunities to increase the resilience of young and old populations in the face of climate hazards. The City can partner with local organizations and schools to develop mobility and evacuation programs for young and old residents in the face of climate hazards. Similarly, older populations can increase resilience to climate hazards with increased social cohesion and networks, which the City can also partner.
• Northfield has opportunity to increase its locally grown food. Through partnerships with local farmers, schools, and other programs, the City can create programming to increase access to healthy food, create educational opportunities, and encourage more people to get involved in local gardening and farming practices.
• In the City’s strategic plan, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion is one of six strategic priorities, with an initiative focused on the creation and implementation of a Racial Equity Action Plan. The City is participating in a cohort of Minnesota cities working to advance racial equity implementation through the Government Alliance on Racial Equity (GARE). These plans on their own will not solve systemic racial inequities that make people of color more vulnerable to climate hazard impacts, but the commitment of the City to addressing these issues can be built upon to also specifically address climate vulnerabilities.
• Focusing City services, outreach materials, and support for community-led initiatives on low-income populations in Northfield can address vulnerabilities and increase resiliency. Programs in support of safe, efficient, affordable housing and increased mobility options accessible to low-income residents can increase community resiliency.
City of Northfield Climate Action Plan | Resilience Assessment | Appendix B 11 Built Infrastructure The built infrastructure of a City includes facilities constructed for water distribution and treatment, transportation and mobility, buildings, and critical infrastructure such as the delivery of energy. These features are crucial to the functioning of a City and the safety of its residents. Built infrastructure may be susceptible to climate hazards, especially when not maintained regularly nor constructed with consideration of future climate impacts. Built infrastructure can be particularly vulnerable to increased precipitation and freeze/thaw cycles, which can shock and stress pipes, roads, and bridges, leading to structural damage. This section provides a snapshot of climate hazards of greatest concern for built infrastructure in Northfield, highlighting existing conditions, strengths, vulnerabilities, and opportunities for increased resilience. Information for this section was gathered from City staff, existing reports, plans available on the City website, and data from State agencies.
Water Infrastructure Water infrastructure includes drinking water, stormwater infrastructure (gray and green), and wastewater treatment. Access to clean, potable water is central to the safety and vitality of Northfield residents and businesses. Water infrastructure may be susceptible to climate hazards including prolonged heatwaves, heavy precipitation, extreme weather events, and freeze/thaw cycles. Power outages caused by extreme weather can impact the functioning of wastewater and drinking water infrastructure. With increased heavy precipitation events, stormwater infrastructure may be stressed or overwhelmed, limiting its ability to effectively convey or allow water to infiltrate as designed. Further, flooding and flash flooding events can increase the likelihood of surface water contamination, reducing water quality. Power outages caused by extreme weather can impact the functionality of wastewater and drinking water infrastructure. Stormwater Infrastructure Stormwater infrastructure supports community resiliency during periods of heavy rainfall. Conveyance systems help to move water quickly to rivers, streams, and lakes - away from the built environment. While this strategy works for most rainfalls, it may have negative impacts in times of heavier than anticipated rain events. Systems that are not designed to handle heavy rains may not have the capacity to intake large volumes of water, leading to back-ups and potential for flash flooding. Further, there may be downstream impacts related to sending too much water, too fast, and sometimes carrying debris or pollutants, into bodies of water.
Supplementing stormwater conveyance systems with green infrastructure can help mitigate some of these challenges. Green infrastructure, like bioretention ponds and rain gardens, as well as other infrastructure changes like permeable paving surfaces, can help slow the flow of stormwater and filter contaminants. According to Northfield’s Comprehensive plan, the City’s stormwater drainage system consists of detention and quality treatment ponds, creeks, drainage ways, roadway gutters, overflow and yard drainage swales, catch basins, storm sewer lateral and storm sewer trunk main facilities. Photo Credit: Great Plains Institute
City of Northfield Climate Action Plan | Resilience Assessment | Appendix B 12 Conveyance Systems: In Northfield, there are about 40 miles of stormwater pipes, including gravity mains and drain tiles. Stormwater pipes primarily direct water into the Cannon River. Most pipes that the City has data on range from 12 to 36 inches in diameter. The City does not have a complete record on the age and condition of storm lines City-wide. As rainfall and precipitation increase, stormwater will increase, raising the concern of burdening the capacity of these conveyance systems.
Green Infrastructure: Northfield’s green stormwater infrastructure includes 57 bioretention ponds and one infiltration basin. The stormwater ponds are an average of 20.5 years old. In 2017, a water quality assessment was completed for the City of Northfield. 3 The assessment examines stormwater ponds and measured their water quality against the state quality standard. Eight bioretention ponds were identified as high priority to be improved as they have reached or are approaching their sediment accumulation capacity. When stormwater runoff enters impaired ponds, the runoff is not adequately filtered, and therefore is less effective at mitigating flooding and improving water quality because the ponds can no longer hold water at their designed capacity. When ponds reach or exceed their design capacity, more polluted water enters the river. The City of Northfield provides incentive programs for residents to install rain gardens, native plantings, and rain barrels. These programs encourage residents to manage stormwater runoff in their own yards and residences.
Drinking Water Water demand is forecasted to increase as summer days become warmer: community members will drink more water to cool themselves down and use more water for distressed trees and other vegetation. Potable water in Northfield comes from five ground-water wells originating from the Jordan-St. Lawrence, Jordan and Jordan-Prairie-du-Chien aquifers.4 The wells range from 365 to 415 deep. There are three storage facilities for potable water. The water distribution system is made up of water mains ranging from 4 to 24 inches in diameter. In 2006, Northfield conducted a comprehensive water plan, which identified the water distribution system as effective and serving its purpose well.5 To ensure resilience to climate events, the City must ensure maintenance and expansion of the water system as population trends increase and climate hazards introduce new threats to the system. As extreme weather is projected to increase, however, the City should be prepared to respond to quality and age issues of wells in the event of a pipe burst.
Wastewater Infrastructure Wastewater infrastructure is made up of sewage lines and wastewater treatment facilities. This infrastructure may be more vulnerable to climate hazards as it ages and if maintenances is deferred. In Northfield, the sewage system serves 7.66 square miles and was originally constructed in the early 1900s.6 The pipes range from 4 to 52 inches in diameter and the system is primarily a gravity pipe network. About 10% of the sewage lines are older than 50 years old, which is an indicator of system vulnerability to performance issues. Inflow/infiltration is a problem that may occur when clean water enters the sanitary sewer system, potentially causing back-up problems and the unnecessary treatment of clean water. In 2008, the Sewage Comprehensive Plan for Northfield indicated no significant infiltration or inflow issues in Northfield.
3 City of Northfield, City of Northfield Stormwater Pond Assessment, https://www.ci.northfield.mn.us/DocumentCenter/View/6170/Northfield-Pond-Assessment---Final-Report---12212017?bidId= , (accessed June 2019). 4 https://ci.northfield.mn.us/DocumentCenter/View/7825/2018-Northfield-CCR 5 City of Northfield, Comprehensive Water Plan, https://www.ci.northfield.mn.us/DocumentCenter/View/608/ComprehensiveWaterPlan?bidId= , (accessed June 2019). 6 City of Northfield, Comprehensive Sanitary Sewer Plan for the Northfield/Dundas Area, https://www.ci.northfield.mn.us/DocumentCenter/View/607/ComprehensiveStormsewerPlan?bidId=, (accessed June 2019).
City of Northfield Climate Action Plan | Resilience Assessment | Appendix B 13 The City of Northfield operates a wastewater treatment facility that discharges into the Cannon River. In 2016, the City completed a plan for Northfield’s Wastewater Treatment Facility that included recommendations for improvements, repairs, and replacements.7 The facility was originally constructed in 1958, with the latest improvements before 2016 occurring in 2002. The facility was designed to meet the needs of the community until 2020. In 2018, the Northfield wastewater treatment facility experienced overflow issues and a fire. This City is currently updating the facility; upgrades are projected to be complete in February 2020.
Strengths Northfield has strategically and preemptively sought to mitigate concerns for inflow/infiltration and increasing frequency of high-volume precipitation events through green stormwater infrastructure policies and incentives for residents to install rain gardens, rain barrels, and native plantings. The City passed an ordinance giving the City engineer authority to require a stormwater management study as part of site plan review.8 The upgrades to the wastewater treatment facility will include a specific focus on energy efficiency and upgraded safety features, as well as features that will increase the load served. These upgrades will ensure that the facility can operate efficiently and effectively as wastewater loads continue to increase with increased population.
Vulnerabilities Northfield’s water infrastructure may be most vulnerable to stormwater runoff issues due to design capacity in the face of increased climate hazards. As flooding events become more prevalent, stormwater infrastructure may become more strained and reach maximum capacity for high performance. Older pipes are more susceptible to leaks and bursts in the face of increased stress. In Northfield, 10% of sanitary sewer pipes are older than 50 years. Eight of Northfield’s stormwater ponds have sediment levels indicating their ineffectiveness at adequately filtering stormwater before it enters other water bodies. The wastewater treatment facility is also situated in the northern portion of the City, immediately next to a FEMA-designated (Federal Emergency Management Association) area. This proximity indicates that the facility is vulnerable to river and flash flooding.
Opportunities Supplementing conveyance systems with green infrastructure increases stormwater filtration and eases the capacity pressure of the stormwater management system. By tracking and monitoring condition and age of the stormwater lines, the City can better perform regular maintenance and monitor for stress and quality. Actions that improve impaired stormwater ponds will increase capacity for filtration and prevent contamination of surface water bodies. For drinking water infrastructure, the City has an opportunity to address the expanded need for new wells in the coming years, as climate hazards may impact the functionality of current well infrastructure. Wastewater treatment presents several opportunities for increased resilience. Smart sewers help to control wastewater and stormwater flow into waterways through sensors and monitoring. These systems can also lessen sewer overflow and backup issues. The wastewater treatment plant updates currently being undertaken by the City include resilience opportunities, such as installing a microgrid for increased energy resiliency and reliability.
7 City of Northfield, Wastewater Treatment Facility Plan, https://kymnradio.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Final-Northfield-Facility-Plan-Adopted-2016-02-16.pdf , (accessed June 2019). 8 City of Northfield, Land Development Code (Section 2.4.4 Public Institution District (PI-S), B ), https://www.ci.northfield.mn.us/DocumentCenter/View/5005/Complete-2017-LDC-3-27-17?bidId=, (accessed June 2019).
City of Northfield Climate Action Plan | Resilience Assessment | Appendix B 14 Transportation Infrastructure Transportation infrastructure – roads, bridges, public transportation routes, bike/pedestrian trails and sidewalks – allows for movement of people and goods. Increased extreme weather events, particularly more frequent and intense precipitation events, put stress on built infrastructure systems. Roads, bridges, and routes that are older and maintained less frequently are particularly vulnerable to hazards and potentially increasing overall maintenance costs and inhibit travel. Resilient transportation systems can facilitate active mobility choices, improving public health and enhancing stormwater infrastructure with capture and infiltration systems.
This section assesses the existing transportation network – roads and bridge, public transportation, and active mobility – in Northfield, and identifies strengths, vulnerabilities, and opportunities to improve its resilience.
Roads and Bridges Roads and bridges are both vulnerable to climate hazards and provide an opportunity for increased resiliency for Northfield residents. Roads and bridges may be particularly susceptible to damage caused by increased freeze/thaw cycles, extreme heat, and flooding. The biggest risk of these climate hazards on roads and bridges is increased maintenance costs for infrastructure to ensure safety. Northfield contains 74 miles of roads – 18% of which (14.4 miles) are in less than fair condition. According to the Capital Improvement Plan, all roads will be reconstructed by 2021. There are 12 bridges in Northfield, all of which are in good or fair condition.
Road and bridge networks present an opportunity for community resilience through stormwater management and mobility. Safe, reliable mobility options are important for residents under normal conditions and will be especially important as residents move away from potential climate hazards.
Public Transportation Public transportation options not only help to mitigate emissions, but also provide an opportunity for increased community resilience. Hiawathaland Transit serves the internal Northfield-Dundas region and Dial- a-ride bus services are available within the City. Northfield Lines, which has stops between Northfield and the Twin Cities metropolitan area, stops at Carleton College, downtown Northfield, and St. Olaf College regularly, at least once daily. Of commuters traveling to and from Northfield, 0.50% of commuters use these bus lines to commute according to the 2017 American Community Survey estimates.
In focus group discussions with both the Latinx community and college students, many community members noted the frustration with the limited options for transit in the community. In these conversations, it was expressed that the existing services are difficult to navigate, have limited frequency, and are the slowest transportation option for movement throughout the community.
Photo Credit: Great Plains Institute
City of Northfield Climate Action Plan | Resilience Assessment | Appendix B 15 Pedestrian and Bike Trails Active Mobility Active mobility options include bicycling, walking, scootering, rollerblading, and other forms of movement and rolling. Benefits of active mobility options include increased exercise, physical and mental health benefits, safer mobility, and reduced emissions. A cohesive, safe, well-maintained network of trails can enhance resiliency to climate hazards, particularly for those residents without access to a personal vehicle. Increased mobility options help people avoid, evacuate from, and adapt to climate hazards, such as a flood near their home.
About 8% of Northfield residents walk or bike to work. Northfield has approximately 26.23 miles of trail – a combination of biking, walking, or combined trails. Many trails, mapped in Figure 5, are fragmented – a notable exception is the Mill Towns State Trail, which loops around the Cannon River. Most of the biking and walking trails are both located and connected in the southern portion of the community and along the Cannon going south from downtown.
In April 2019, Toole Engineering conducted an analysis of different plans and policies in Northfield that impact transportation, with the intention of improving pedestrian, bicycle, and trail networks.9 As a part of this study, Toole Design facilitated an online gap analysis performed by Northfield residents. The analysis identified bicycling and walking network gaps in the City. Generally, Toole Design found that pedestrian problem areas are clustered along three major corridors with both limited pedestrian visibility and protection when crossing, fast-moving traffic failing to yield, a lack of pedestrian protection arounds schools, and a Figure 5. Pedestrian and bicycle trails in Northfield, MN. Source: City of Northfield Public lack of sidewalk. Bicycling problem areas are clustered along similar corridors Works Department, 2019; generated by Jessi Wyatt. as pedestrian areas, with common concerns being a lack of safe crossing areas, fast-moving traffic, and poor maintenance and signage of existing routes. This analysis is useful in helping to determine areas that Northfield can prioritize as it expands infrastructure for active mobility.
9 City of Northfield, City of Northfield Pedestrian, Bike, and Trail System, https://www.ci.northfield.mn.us/ DocumentCenter/View/7570/City-of-Northfield-Pedestrian-Bike-and-Trail-System_Final-Report?bidId=. (Accessed June 2019).
City of Northfield Climate Action Plan | Resilience Assessment | Appendix B 16 Photo Credit: Great Plains Institute
Strengths Much of the City road infrastructure is in better than fair condition, with all roads planned for reconstruction by 2021. This maintenance and upgrading of roads will improve the overall resilience of the transportation system that is dedicated to vehicles. Bridges in Northfield are in good condition as well.
Vulnerabilities Active mobility trails in Northfield are fragmented across the community, making them more difficult to maintain and to use. Public transportation systems in Northfield are limited in availability, coverage, accessibility, and convenience. There are no public bicycle shares, electric scooters, or other active mobility options.
Opportunities As streets age and are scheduled for maintenance, replacement, or upgrade, there is opportunity to think creatively about enhancing the existing design. This can be done to incorporate additional transportation capacity or redesign for alternative transportation modes, also allowing an opportunity to include natural stormwater infrastructure. The community can further prioritize completing the bike and pedestrian networks throughout the
City of Northfield Climate Action Plan | Resilience Assessment | Appendix B 17 community, with emphasis on improving connectivity for low-income neighborhoods where residents may have few options for travel. Buildings and Critical Infrastructure Protecting buildings and critical infrastructure from extreme weather and heavy precipitation events can help minimize damage, sustain function, reduce costs, and keep people safe. Buildings most vulnerable are those with deferred maintenance, structures in flood plains or in areas prone to flash flooding, or those with poor construction material. Both public and private buildings should be considered. The City owns seven buildings and 25 park facilities, there are 130 industrial buildings, 546 commercial buildings, and more than 5,000 residential buildings in Northfield.
Critical infrastructure can include hospitals, schools, emergency services, and community centers. It also includes telecommunication and energy services, and modes of travel. Such entities and systems are vulnerable to electric power outages, which can increase in frequency with extreme weather and prolonged heatwaves. Damage to critical infrastructure can disrupt emergency response, reduce access to necessary power or communication, and impact the health of those in need of emergency and other health services. Protecting and reinforcing these assets to withstand extreme weather will help the City better prepare for extreme events.
Xcel Energy provides electricity and natural gas to Northfield. Reliability and safety are among the company’s top priorities. Any event impacting the distribution system that leads to power failure must be addressed as quickly as possible. Xcel Energy owns the distribution system and is responsible for ensuring it delivers power. Extreme weather events and ice storms pose threats to distribution infrastructure that could lead to power outages. This is especially critical in times of extreme temperatures when people have heating and cooling needs; it also impacts those who depend on medical devices and businesses that rely on electricity. Building a resilient grid — burying power lines where feasible, incorporating micro-grids, and having back-up power — can help minimize risk.
Strengths Most buildings are outside of the Cannon River floodplain, reducing their risk to damage from flooding events. While Xcel Energy has low outage rates, there are times when the power is disrupted due to a number of factors. According to its restoration process, Xcel estimates power is typically restored within 24 hours of a storm. The City has back up power generation for many of its buildings and water pumps. There are also portable generators available as needed. All generators are powered with diesel or natural gas.
Vulnerabilities The wastewater treatment facility is located within a FEMA designated flood zone, putting it at risk for damage from rising waters after heavy precipitation or a rapid spring thaw. Inefficient or poor-quality homes are at greater risk for damage from extreme weather and are susceptible to higher energy costs due to inadequate air sealing and insulation, as well as inefficient appliances.
Opportunities There are opportunities to replace diesel and natural gas-powered back-up generators with on-site solar and storage options, which are less-polluting and don’t require refueling. As buildings and homes are updated to be more energy efficient, resilience considerations should be factors in any major renovation or new development project.
City of Northfield Climate Action Plan | Resilience Assessment | Appendix B 18 Natural Infrastructure The natural infrastructure of a City includes ecological features that supplement built infrastructure to provide essential services such as water infiltration, air quality improvements, carbon sequestration, and quality of life enhancement. Natural infrastructure includes trees, rain gardens, native landscaping, as well as wetlands and water bodies. These features can be both vulnerable to climate hazards and help mitigate impacts of climate hazards. For example, a healthy and extensive tree canopy sequesters carbon, provides shade on the increased extreme heat days, and filters stormwater.
This section provides a snapshot of climate hazards that threaten natural infrastructure, describing existing conditions, strengths, vulnerabilities, and opportunities.
Trees and Native Plants Trees are an important asset that provide ecological, environmental, social, and economic benefits to communities. Trees improve air quality, support healthy ecosystems and biodiversity, sequester carbon, help to manage stormwater run-off, enhance community aesthetics, and provide shade. Similarly, native plants provide habitat to pollinators, improve surface water quality, and enhance aesthetics. During times of extreme heat events, shading from trees becomes particularly important. Likewise, improved infiltration of stormwater runoff provided by tree and plant root systems is critical as major rain events become more frequent and intense.
The health of a community’s tree canopy has broad-reaching implications for climate resilience and mitigation. Northfield has a tree canopy coverage of 30.3%, indicating moderately healthy coverage and an opportunity to add more trees.
A significant concern for trees in Northfield is the prevalence of Emerald Ash Borer (EAB), a beetle whose larvae is lethal to ash trees. The invasive insect is increasing in prevalence partially due to warming winters in Minnesota. In Northfield, 20.3% of all trees are ash, meaning the canopy is particularly susceptible to EAB. Additionally, the highest percent of a single genus is Maple, accounting for 27.4%, well above the 10% recommended level of a single genus. Northfield has six private and eight public rain gardens, totaling 0.8 acres of coverage across the 14 rain gardens.
Photo Credit: Great Plains Institute
City of Northfield Climate Action Plan | Resilience Assessment | Appendix B 19 Rain gardens help to capture stormwater runoff and allow it to slowly infiltrate the ground, alleviating the volume of water that enters the conveyance system of the built stormwater system.
Soil health is also critical for a healthy urban forest. The establishment of a local waste processing facility could provide compost material that can be used for soil restoration and enhancement.
Strengths The Cowling Arboretum within Northfield’s City limits has a large tree canopy and extensive land management plan to build climate resiliency. Similarly, the St. Olaf Natural Lands provide significant natural vegetation cover. The urban tree canopy coverage is healthy with moderate diversity. The City has also adopted a tree preservation ordinance, which helps ensure canopy health and vitality.
Vulnerabilities Northfield’s most significant vulnerability for natural infrastructure is the high percentage of ash trees susceptible to the spread of EAB. Northfield has a high percentage of maple trees. While there is not currently a significant threat to maple trees, the City should consider increasing the diversity of its trees as more are planted. In addition, some projections for Minnesota’s warming climate predict that different types of trees may be better suited for a changing climate, which could mean that existing coverage in Northfield may not be resilient in the long-term, as hardiness zones begin to change.10 There is also concern that a warming climate will create increasing opportunity for insects and viruses that host in trees to add stressors to Northfield’s canopy.
Opportunities In Midwest communities, urban tree canopy targets can range from 40% to 60% or more, depending on the preference of the community. A denser urban canopy will provide multiple benefits to the community. The City should look to prioritize tree replacement and planting in areas of low coverage and minimize the impact of Emerald Ash Borer.
Photo Credit: Great Plains Institute
10 United States Department of Agriculture, Minnesota Forest Ecosystem Vulnerability Assessment and Synthesis: A Report from the Northwoods Climate Change Response Framework Project, https://www. fs.fed.us/nrs/pubs/gtr/gtr_nrs133.pdf. (Accessed June 2019).
City of Northfield Climate Action Plan | Resilience Assessment | Appendix B 20 Water Supply and Quality Stable water supply and good water quality are high priorities for communities. A stable, clean water source provides a resilient asset to the community as temperatures warm and extreme weather events increase. Increased precipitation and changing freeze-thaw cycles may impact stormwater management practices that help to maintain the health of surface water.
Groundwater Potable water in Northfield is drawn from a series of wells throughout the City. According to the City’s website, all municipal wells draw from the Jordan bedrock aquifers. The geology of the aquifer is primarily composed of sandstone, which has porous characteristics and is prone to fractures. Due to the permeability and the potential for wellheads to be compromised, the aquifer is most vulnerable to contaminations, especially to nitrates. Well surveys have already identified elevated nitrate levels in some of the supply wells. Risk of contamination is further exacerbated during heavy rain events.11 Many Northfield residents also have private wells.
Surface Water There are five major water bodies that convey and store water through Northfield: The Cannon River, Heath Creek, Spring Creek, Rice Creek (also called Spring Brook), and Lyman Lakes (wide spots of Spring Creek located at Carleton College). The Cannon River, Heath Creek, and Rice Creek/Spring Brook are listed as impaired by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency.12 The Cannon River is designated as impaired for aquatic life, aquatic consumption, and aquatic recreation due to Escherichia coli (E. coli). Heath Creek is designated as impaired for aquatic life and aquatic recreation due to the presence of E. coli. Rice Creek/Spring Brook is designated as impaired for aquatic life, aquatic recreation also due to E. coli, and drinking water due to nitrate contamination. 11 Metropolitan Council, Groundwater Digest, https://metrocouncil.org/Wastewater-Water/ Publications-And-Resources/WATER-SUPPLY-PLANNING/Groundwater-Digest,-Twin-Cities-Metropolitan- Area,.aspx. (Accessed June 2019). 12 Inventory of All Impaired Waters, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (2018). https://www.pca. Photo Credit: Great Plains Institute state.mn.us/water/minnesotas-impaired-waters-list. (Accessed June 2019).
City of Northfield Climate Action Plan | Resilience Assessment | Appendix B 21 Wetlands Wetlands encourage water infiltration, filtering out toxins and pollutants from runoff or fertilizers, and providing habitat and carbon sequestration. Wetlands also provide erosion and flood control and habitat for plants and vegetation, as well as facilitating groundwater recharge and discharge and creating recreation opportunities and economic value for communities.13
According to the National Wetland Inventory in collaboration with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, there are an estimated 1,695.8 acres of wetlands in Northfield, inclusive of the Riverine designations (e.g. the Cannon River). The most prominent wetland type by area after Riverine is Freshwater Emergent Wetland. This wetland type is characterized by its temporal nature, which may make it seem like there is not wetland during parts of the dry season.
Strengths As noted, the Jordan aquifer is at a stable level and quality for drinking water, although vulnerable to contamination. The shoreland overlay district in the Land Development Code protects shoreland areas in Northfield to preserve and enhance its surface waters. The Wellhead Protection Plan includes an extensive inventory of potential contaminants and identified land use and adjacent land classification as contributing factors to wellhead protection.
Vulnerabilities The Cannon River, a central community feature, is an impaired water Figure 6 Inventory of all wetlands in Northfield. Source: Statewide Wetland Inventory (Minnesota DNR, 2018); map generated by Jessi Wyatt. designated by the MPCA. Heath Creek and Rice Creek/Spring Brook are also impaired waters according to the MCPA. For impaired surface waters like these, heavy precipitation events can have negative impacts to nitrate concentration, as well as increasing turbidity and water flow/volume – all of which have subsequent impacts on wildlife, vegetation, and water quality.
The 2013 Wellhead Protection Plan (Part 1) identified the Jordan aquifer and supply wells as vulnerable to contamination.14 As Northfield adds 13 Wetlands, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Ecological and Water Resources. https://www. dnr.state.mn.us/wetlands/index.html. (Accessed August 2019). 14 City of Northfield Drinking Water Supply Management Plan (Part 1 and 2) (2013). https://www. ci.northfield.mn.us/DocumentCenter/View/644/Northfield-WHPP-Part-2-Feb-19-2013-T15102880.
City of Northfield Climate Action Plan | Resilience Assessment | Appendix B 22 development with population growth and increased housing needs, impervious surface will likely increase. Higher impervious surface percentages can increase runoff and exacerbate warming water temperatures. Tertiary land use and management decisions, like agricultural fertilizer application and winter road salt use, can also negatively impact water quality. Additionally, the proximity of the geologic bedrock to the surface, particularly in downtown Northfield, makes stormwater infiltration difficult.
Opportunities Green stormwater infrastructure elements can help ensure the health of surface water systems as water quality levels are managed and runoff is controlled. The stormwater management ordinance in Northfield is an opportunity to incorporate and prioritize green infrastructure elements. Preserving and restoring wetland areas can also improve water quality and enhance stormwater function.
The City can strengthen relationships with local farmers to continue encouraging producers to adopt agricultural best practices regarding water, such as perennial plants and/or green manure cover crops. There is additional opportunity to partner or collaborate with surrounding municipalities and water management authorities to plan more comprehensively for water use needs and risk management. This could be particularly valuable at the watershed scale, and with partnership or input from state agencies. Because resilience requires long-term consideration, the City should begin discussions with surrounding Townships to ensure that the 50- and 100-year recharge of the aquifer is protected.
Land Use and Agriculture Northfield is a thriving, rural community with agricultural characteristics located about an hour south of the Twin Cities metro. It was mentioned previously that there are numerous land uses and practices that contribute to climate change, but there are also many climate and resilience benefits that can be realized through sustainable land use and agricultural practices. Specifically, land use decisions can help mitigate effects of rainfall, reduce urban heat island effect, store carbon, and support local food production.
In consideration of the increasing likelihood of heavy precipitation events, land cover practices that incorporate stormwater management best practices will help improve the City’s ability to withstand such events. Impervious surface refers to non-vegetated land – typically buildings, roads, parking lots, and other concrete areas. About 40% of land in Northfield is classified as impervious surface. High impervious cover can exacerbate and contribute to climate hazards like heavy precipitation events and urban heat island effect. Increasing vegetative cover and pervious surface, on the other hand, helps to minimize the impact of those hazards in addition to other benefits like storing carbon.
The agricultural nature of the community presents an opportunity to expand local food options. The Inter-Governmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) recently released a report highlighting sustainable land management and food security. The report points to declines in crop yields and global instability around food access, suggesting major shifts to the food system. Northfield has opportunity to leverage its local agricultural resources to expand food production and increase access to healthy food. Rice County conducted a survey in 2016 as part of its comprehensive plan update. One question asked about the importance of local food production in the county — 55.8% of respondents strongly agreed and 36.8% agreed, underscoring its importance to community members. Encouraging edible urban tree canopies, community gardens, and partnerships with local farms and community-supported agriculture can help minimize large climate hazards that risk interruption of traditional food supply chains to Northfield residents.
(Accessed July 2019).
City of Northfield Climate Action Plan | Resilience Assessment | Appendix B 23 Strengths Impervious Surface Cover Northfield is a developed community with rural characteristics. Many of the neighborhoods and edge areas of the community have low impervious surface and greater vegetative cover. The proximity of the agricultural community can support a local food system. A number of CSAs already operate in the Northfield area, including Spring Wind Farm, Simple Harvest Farm Organics, Open Hands Farm, Waxwing Farm, Seeds Farm, and Thorn Crest Farm. Increasing both utilization and opportunity for CSA participation supports the type of local agricultural resilience that Northfield community members want to see and could help improve production practices on some farmland around the community. Ensuring that local food purchase opportunities are available to all residents – regardless of income level – can further improve resilience while also addressing disparities in food security and access to healthy food options.
Vulnerabilities Much of Northfield’s downtown and industrial areas have greater than 50% impervious surface coverage, increasing runoff during heavy rain events and contributing to urban heat island effect. Thoughtful consideration of impervious surface and its alternatives, particularly if Northfield continues to grow as a community, can help mitigate some of the consequences incurred from impervious cover.
Opportunities Impervious surfaces can be reduced by decreasing parking lot surface areas, narrowing streets, and committing to land cover conversion where Figure 7. Impervious surfaces in Northfield, MN. Source: City of Northfield Public Works; generated appropriate (from impervious to pervious). Northfield’s rural characteristics by Jessi Wyatt. and proximity to agricultural resources create an opportunity to improve food security and support the local agricultural economy. Supporting local food enterprises both reduces emissions from the transportation of food and boosts local businesses, while providing healthy sustenance for residents. Further, available land within the community can also offer opportunity to convert land into food production through community gardens and school programming, but also through innovations in edible urban landscapes.
City of Northfield Climate Action Plan | Resilience Assessment | Appendix B 24 Climate Resilience Strategies Building community resilience to changes in climate events is crucial to climate action and to ensuring the safety and well-being of the community. Strategies for increasing community resilience and addressing community vulnerabilities to climate hazards are divided into three main categories: improve population resilience, enhance built infrastructure resilience, and enhance natural infrastructure resilience. Improving community resilience presents many other opportunities, including addressing inequities within Northfield’s population that can exacerbate climate vulnerabilities. RS – 1 Improve Population Resilience Description: Improve community resilience by enabling community members to prepare for and recover from climate-related impacts through education, ensured food security, safe housing conditions, and emergency preparedness. Recommended Actions Preparedness and Response • Lead and support emergency preparedness measures: GSC best practice 29 o Aid in response to food scarcities due to extreme weather o Support a local, healthy food shelf GSC best practice 27 o Develop and support plans for evacuation measures, particularly for populations vulnerable to hazards and within flood zones and those with limited mobility considerations o Ensure that emergency alerts are available in Spanish and can be received through a variety of channels o Provide education materials on the health impacts of air pollutions and extreme heat GSC best practice 24 o Partner with community organizations to reach vulnerable populations • Support active living through mobility options that are equitably available and accessible throughout the community, especially in underserved communities GSC best practice 12 • Establish a food coordinator position to lead local food programming to support locally produced foods and businesses GSC best practice 27 Education and Resources • Develop educational materials about warming temperatures, increased precipitation events, and potential health impacts to help residents become more resilient to climate impacts Equity • Incorporate climate considerations and resilience strategies into Racial Equity Action Plan; ensure climate and equity are integrated into the comprehensive plan update GSC best practice 6 • Increase affordable housing, emergency and transitional housing in Northfield, and ensure safety of these homes GSC best practice 7 • Strengthen community connectedness across cultural groups through more inclusive community events and more intentional engagement with underrepresented groups GSC best practice 29 • Consider climate migrants (unexpected growth in population) in City planning efforts GSC best practice 29 • Ensure access to local, healthy food to all residents through partnerships to improve food security • Ensure sidewalks are well-maintained and accessible for those who have difficulty walking or use wheelchairs Housing • Explore opportunities to require energy improvements for quality affordable housing that is safe and energy efficient
City of Northfield Climate Action Plan | Resilience Assessment | Appendix B 25 RS – 2 Enhance the Resilience of Built Infrastructure Description: Ensure long-term integrity and reliability of built infrastructure systems through maintenance and integration of resilience into long-term planning and projects. Recommended Actions Stormwater • Incorporate resilience into the capital improvement plan to ensure City infrastructure projects consider projected climate impacts GSC best practice 17 o Conduct an asset management assessment in consideration of life cycle costs and climate risks o Develop and utilize a climate lens for all City infrastructure planning • Increase community energy resilience during power outages through the development of micro-grids with storage and renewable electricity generation GSC best practice 20 • Evaluate upstream and downstream impact on the Cannon River of the Ames Mill Dam removal GSC best practice 17 • Use the higher historical rain events (500 or 1000-year floods) from Atlas 14 or projections as they become available for stormwater system planning and construction GSC best practice 17 • Incorporate smart sewer systems to monitor flows, overflow potential, and backup issues through sensors GSC best practice 20 • Increase the utilization of green infrastructure to supplement existing and future stormwater management systems, such as stormwater ponds and infiltration basins GSC best practice 29 • Work with upstream jurisdictions to mitigate flooding Potable Water • Work with state agencies and other local governments to monitor the stability of the water supply from the Jordan aquifer and support management efforts GSC best practice 20 • Ensure the drinking water availability is adequate and balanced to meet future demand without risking the supply GSC best practice 20 • Continue to ensure the wastewater system has capacity to support increase demand GSC best practice 20 Emergency Response • Coordinate with Dakota and Rice counties to plan for the management and recovery of waste after extreme weather events GSC best practice 22 • Ensure the incorporation of resilient elements such as microgrids, solar plus storage, and backup energy infrastructure GSC best practice 2 Land Use • Incorporate additional transportation modes (such as bike lanes, wide sidewalks) and green stormwater infrastructure systems (such as rain gardens) into street maintenance and reconstruction projects GSC best practice 12 • Prioritize community multi-modal connectivity in long-term planning GSC best practice 12 • Increase bicycle and pedestrian network connectivity through the Complete Streets Policy implementation and implementation of the “Pedestrian, Bike and Trail System Final Report (April 2019), with an emphasis on connecting low-income neighborhoods with downtown Northfield GSC best practice 12 • Continue to include Accessory Dwelling Units as a permitted use in Northfield’s Land Development Code to enable more efficient use of land GSC best practice 14
City of Northfield Climate Action Plan | Resilience Assessment | Appendix B 26 RS – 3 Natural Infrastructure Description: Protect and enhance natural infrastructure to ensure resilience to climate hazards and ability to mitigate impacts from climate hazards Recommended Actions Education • Host workshops to provide opportunities for interested parties to learn about actions they can take to improve resilience including: GSC best practice 24 o Soil remediation best practices o Increasing tree canopy and caring for existing trees on private property o Changing landscaping practices to consider beneficial plantings and practices that provide stormwater benefits, improve soil health, and increase pollinator habitat o Water conservation measures to reduce consumption of potable water and treatment of wastewater • Incorporate food education and farming programs into Northfield school districts GSC best practice 27
Urban Forest and Vegetation • Update and adopt the Urban Forestry Asset Management Plan GSC best practice 16 • Incentivize expansion of boulevard gardens on private property; expand boulevard gardens and rain gardens on City-owned lands, and incorporate pollinator gardens in all parks and encourage / incentivize them on private property GSC best practice 11 o Increase tree canopy through City-sponsored program to plant trees GSC best practice 16 o Prioritize tree replacement and plantings in areas of low canopy coverage to reduce the impact of Emerald Ash Borer damage o Proactively pursue increased canopy coverage to improve long-term resilience o Encourage the planting of fruit-bearing trees; support programs that harvest fruit • Pursue pervious pavement alternatives • With the development of City parks and green spaces, ensure accessibility for all residents through connected trails, proximity to low-income neighborhoods, and signage in English and Spanish Soil, Agriculture, and Food • Create Advisory Board that represents agricultural sector in Northfield, supporting best practice models for carbon reduction farming and equal access and affordability of sustainable food GSC best practice 16 • Enable and encourage more community gardens throughout the City GSC best practice 16 • Incentivize and reward soil best management practice for urban lawns, gardens, landscaping, parks, open spaces, prairies, environmentally sensitive areas, and agricultural land uses GSC best practice 16 • Support creation of local compost process facilities and system to deliver organic material GSC best practice 22 • Increase conversation with agricultural producers to support local food systems and ensure sustainable agricultural land use practices, learn with and from community to better improve and achieve community resilience GSC best practice 27
City of Northfield Climate Action Plan | Resilience Assessment | Appendix B 27 Northfield: Sustainable Energy for All Energy Subcommittee Report Climate Action Plan Advisory Board May 2019
DRAFT TO CITY COUNCIL July 23, 2019
City of Northfield Climate Action Plan Appendix C Contents
Forward: Northfield’s Energy Future ...... 1 1. Executive Summary ...... 2 1.1 Background ...... 2 1.2 Where are we now? ...... 2 1.3 Where are we headed? ...... 2 1.4 Resources and funding ...... 4 2. Planning Process ...... 5 2.1 Climate Action Plan Advisory Board ...... 5 2.2 Northfield Energy Subcommittee ...... 5 2.3 Xcel Energy’s Partners in Energy offering ...... 5 2.4 Strategic priorities ...... 5 2.5 Review Process and approval ...... 5 3. Planning Context ...... 6 3.1 Northfield history of energy action ...... 6 3.2 State, Federal, and Global Energy Action ...... 7 4. Where We Are Now? ...... 8 4.1 Summary of grid energy use ...... 8 4.2 Off-site renewable energy ...... 9 4.3 On-site renewable energy ...... 9 4.4 Summary of energy conservation program participation...... 9 5. Where We Want to Go ...... 10 5.1 Vision ...... 10 5.2 Carbon reduction goal ...... 10 5.3 Guiding principles ...... 10 6. Strategic Energy Action Priorities ...... 11 6.1 Area A: Education and engagement ...... 11 6.2 Area B: Policy and planning ...... 13 6.3 Area C: Innovation and demonstration ...... 17 6.4 Area D: Support and continuation ...... 19 7. Resources and Funding ...... 21 7.1 Existing and potential city resources ...... 21 7.2 Potential community partners ...... 21
City of Northfield Climate Action Plan Appendix C 7.3 External resources and potential funding opportunities ...... 22 8. Conclusion ...... 23 9. Appendices ...... 24 Appendix 1: Acknowledgements ...... 25 Appendix 2: Northfield’s Baseline Energy Analysis ...... 25 Appendix 3: 18-month Energy Action Jump Start ...... 34 Appendix 4: 2008 Mayor’s Energy Task Force Report Summary With Hope: A Resilient Community An Action Plan for Northfield Area Energy Sustainability ...... 49 Appendix 5: Comprehensive Plan Implementation Matrix Excerpts ...... 52 Appendix 6: Sample Energy Task Force Solicitation ...... 56 Appendix 7: Xcel Energy Partners in Energy Plan Development Process ...... 57 Appendix 8: Glossary of Terms ...... 59
City of Northfield Climate Action Plan Appendix C Forward: Northfield’s Energy Future Affordable energy is the essential resource of the industrialized world. Our modern lives depend on it, as do the economies of the world, the security and stability of nations, and the well-being and resilience of our communities. Everything we consume, construct, and operate requires quantities of energy our pre- industrial ancestors could not have imagined. And these modern energy demands — resulting from urbanization, the industrial and agricultural revolutions, and new modes of transportation — have been magnified by the explosion of humanity’s population.
Climate change is the largely unexpected and daunting consequence of our wild success in meeting explosive worldwide energy demand through the extraction and burning of fossil fuels. The science of climate change is undeniable in its broadest conclusions: the atmospheric accumulation of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases (GHGs) generated by human activity has reached a level that is changing the climates of all places on earth, with compounding and cascading consequences that will soon be unstoppable. And, we are told, that requires that we wean ourselves off fossil fuels as fast as possible. Can we do that and still meet the world’s astounding energy demands?
The good news is that we have the knowledge and resources to address this unprecedented challenge in ways that could improve quality of life for all of earth’s inhabitants. Industry, science, and technology have already given us the tools we need to replace fossil fuels with green, clean, abundant, affordable, reliable energy. It’s a revolution already well underway, and Northfield is off to a great head start. St. Olaf College now runs on 100% green electricity, Carleton College is transitioning its 100-year old steam system to geothermal heating and cooling, many local industry leaders have comprehensive sustainability plans, and 145 Northfield residents and businesses are subscribed to community solar. Electricity from Northfield’s public utility, Xcel Energy, is currently 58% carbon-free,1 and Xcel Energy is committed to providing 100% carbon-free electricity by 2050. Continuing and expanding these transformative actions will not only help avert the worst effects of climate change, it will generate hyper-growth of our economy, enhance our national security, diminish international tensions by reducing climate change migration, and promote the resilience and viability of communities everywhere.
The choices made in small cities and towns all across America will have a profound effect on our nation’s ability to deal with consequences of climate change. The City of Northfield’s 2017 Strategic Plan recognizes this by prioritizing climate action as one of its six strategic priorities. This Energy Subcommittee Report offers the City actionable goals based on local energy data and identifiable community resources. The report was written as a working document to be updated regularly — always striving to raise the bar on its own goals. It isn’t meant to be perfect, but rather to use the tools at hand to take advantage of immediate opportunities, and to act knowing we have a vital responsibility to do our part.
Although the City is asked to lead these actions, the success of this plan depends on the will, participation, dedication, and enthusiasm of the community as a whole. With the help of its conscientious residents, vibrant businesses, and anchor institutions, Northfield is poised to be a leader on our path to a clean energy future.
1 Xcel Energy Upper Midwest Energy Plan
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City of Northfield Climate Action Plan Appendix C 1. Executive Summary 1.1 Background The Energy Subcommittee Report was prepared by the Northfield Energy Subcommittee, which included over two dozen volunteers from Northfield residences, nonprofits, businesses, institutions, and industries. The subcommittee was appointed by the Northfield Climate Action Plan Advisory Board (CAPAB) as part of its charge by the City Council to advance the City of Northfield’s Strategic Plan priority #6: Address climate change impacts. It is intended that the Enregy Subcommittee Report serve as a standalone document, but that select portions will also be folded into a more comprehensive Northfield Climate Action Plan. The City engaged Xcel Energy’s Partners in Energy offering to collaborate on developing and implementing our community’s energy goals. Through a series of facilitated workshops, the subcommittee created this report. The report also draws upon energy and sustainability-focused text from many past Northfield planning documents (e.g. the Comprehensive Plan, 2008 Mayor’s Energy Task Force Report) and various state, federal, and global goals and targets. 1.2 Where are we now? Current Northfield area energy consumption and production provide a data-based understanding of where we are now. Data from the Northfield substation in 2017 shows that of the 7,421 premises served by Xcel Energy, 88% are residential and 12% are commercial/industrial.
In 2017, Northfield consumed 2.7 million MMBTU2 of energy.3 About two-thirds of Northfield’s 2017 energy consumption was from natural gas (67%) and one-third from electricity (33%). Energy data shows that of the 2.7 million MMBTU consumed by Northfield, 21% is consumed by residential premises and the remaining 79% is consumed by commercial/industrial premises. This means that the highest impact opportunities for energy conservation, energy recovery, and renewable energy are with commercial/industrial premises.
Northfield is also experiencing rapid growth in renewable energy produced by three college-owned wind turbines, 81 solar panel installations, 145 community solar garden subscribers, and almost 26 million kWh4 of purchased green energy. For a full report of Northfield energy consumption data and participation in Xcel Energy’s energy conservation programs, see Appendix 2. 1.3 Where are we headed? This report proposes the following vision and energy emissions reduction goal supported by eight guiding principles implemented via fifteen strategic priorities. 1.3.1 Vision Northfield strives to ensure all citizens have access to clean, renewable, reliable, and affordable energy systems that will adapt to a changing climate by conserving energy, reducing our community-wide carbon footprint, and supporting sustainable energy solutions.
2 Reference Appendix 8: Glossary of Terms. 3 Behind-the-meter renewable energy from two of the college wind turbines plus privately-owed solar PV is not included in the energy supplied by Xcel Energy via the Northfield substation. 4 Reference Appendix 8: Glossary of Terms.
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City of Northfield Climate Action Plan Appendix C 1.3.2 Carbon reduction goal For community-wide energy metered at the Northfield substation plus local, behind-the-meter renewable sources, achieve a 50% reduction in energy-related carbon emissions from 2015 levels by 2030, and achieve 100% carbon-neutrality no later than 2050.
This goal is based on the International Panel on Climate Change Guide for Policy Makers, which says that to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius, “global net human-caused emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) would need to fall by about 45% from 2010 levels by 2030, reaching ‘net zero’ around 2050.” 1.3.3 Guiding principles Pursue a sustainable energy future with clean energy available to all businesses and residents, with particular support for under-resourced households.5 Increase overall energy literacy among residents and business owners and operators, including knowledge of where energy comes from, the environmental impacts of different types of energy generation, and what can be done to reduce energy use. Expand renewable energy generation. Lead by example and offer recognition for successful energy efforts Make energy efficiency feasible, affordable, and achievable for both residents and businesses. Promote economic growth while increasing energy conservation and renewable energy generation. Empower future generations to be self-motivated in working toward a sustainable energy future. Inspire and support a high quality of life for future generations. 1.3.4 Strategic priority summary matrix This report intends to be highly actionable and is centered on a set of specific strategies and recommended actions that address future-focused approaches to energy reduction, renewable energy, and energy resilience.
Area A: Education and Engagement (EE)
EE-1 Small Consumer Energy Engagement
EE-2 Large Consumer Energy Engagement
EE-3 Energy Marketing and Tourism
EE-4 Energy Reporting and Transparency
Area B: Policy and Planning (PP)
PP-1 Building Energy Use Benchmarking and Disclosure
PP-2 Building Energy Efficiency Standards
5 Includes households on a fixed-income, experiencing energy burden, or are eligible for income qualified programs.
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City of Northfield Climate Action Plan Appendix C PP-3 Energy Conscious Strategic Growth
PP-4 Forward-Thinking Utility System Expansion
PP-5 Renewable Energy Development Plan
PP-6 Community Energy Resilience Plan
Area C: Innovation and Demonstration (ID)
ID-1 Deep Energy Efficiency Retrofits
ID-2 Net Zero Energy Buildings
ID-3 Strategic Electrification
Area D: Supporting and Continuing the Plan (SC)
SC-1 City Energy Coordinator Position
SC-2 Advancing and Updating the Plan
1.4 Resources and funding Northfield benefits from no-cost resources in the form of active civic engagement from community volunteers, a strong network of nonprofit organizations, and partnerships with two liberal arts colleges. Furthermore, the Xcel Energy Partners in Energy offering provides 18 months of free implementation support to help facilitate and market the small and large consumer energy engagement strategies described in Appendix 3. Past Northfield planning documents and the charters of many existing City Departments and Commissions already align with many of the strategic priorities listed in this plan. The report can achieve many of its stated strategic priorities based on these existing City and no-cost community resources, but the plan also recommends hiring a full-time energy coordinator to provide leadership, continuity, and dedicated support to make the most of these willing partners and ripe opportunities. Additional resources, potential partners, and funding opportunities are listed in Section 8.
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City of Northfield Climate Action Plan Appendix C 2. Planning Process 2.1 Climate Action Plan Advisory Board In 2017, the City of Northfield published its strategic plan, which included six strategic priorities. One of these priorities was to address climate change impacts, and a desired outcome was to write a City of Northfield Climate Action Plan. In 2018, Mayor Rhonda Pownell appointed the Northfield Climate Action Plan Advisory Board (CAPAB) and two city staff members to take on this task. The advisory board was guided by an emphasis on economic health, physical health, environmental health, and quality of life in six focus areas: energy, water, food, transportation, land, and waste. 2.2 Northfield Energy Subcommittee CAPAB member Martha Larson was assigned to be the Energy Subcommittee chair. In partnership with Northfield Public Works Director, David Bennett, and GIS Technician, Bryanna Paarmann, Ms. Larson recruited more than two dozen Northfield Energy Subcommittee volunteers representing Northfield’s residents, businesses, industries, nonprofits, and institutions. See Appendix A for a full list of participants. 2.3 Xcel Energy’s Partners in Energy offering The committee utilized the Xcel Energy Partners in Energy offering, which dedicates at no cost a team of Xcel Energy and Center for Energy and Environment staff to help city staff and community members develop an energy action plan. Xcel Energy’s free services include a six-month planning period, five workshops, and an 18-month implementation period during which the Xcel Energy Partners in Energy team will provide marketing and communications support, data tracking and measurement, program expertise, and project management for a set of specific, near-term strategies outlined in the Energy Subcommittee Report. The Xcel Energy Partners in Energy offering also provides access to Northfield’s energy data, energy plan examples from other community energy action plans, webinars, and other resources to support plan creation and implementation. 2.4 Strategic priorities The core team consisting of the Energy Subcommittee chair, city staff, and the Xcel Energy Partners in Energy team compiled a list of proposed strategic priorities to be included in this report. These were meant to capture the wide variety of ideas and discussions generated at the Northfield Energy Subcommittee workshops. Energy Subcommittee members were surveyed on whether they agreed with each priority and had opportunities to review and comment on each proposed priority during various workshop activities and discussions. In the end, the core team reviewed the rankings of each priority and the associated comments to determine what appeared to be the best strategies to include in the Energy Subcommittee Report. 2.5 Review Process and approval The final Energy Subcommittee Report will be reviewed and endorsed by the Northfield Climate Action Plan Advisory Board, the Planning Commission, and the Environmental Quality Commission before going to the City Council. The City Council will review and approve the full Climate Action Plan at a later date.
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City of Northfield Climate Action Plan Appendix C 3. Planning Context 3.1 Northfield history of energy action The City of Northfield has a long-standing commitment to energy stewardship as part of a broad and dedicated focus on sustainability as a key component to quality of life. This report aligns with, and builds on, the work of many prior Northfield planning documents as noted below.
Title Year Purpose Summary of Recommendations Comprehensive Plan 2008 A community “blueprint” Northfield comprehensive plan for the future, the broadest emphasizes sustainability, energy policy document a community efficiency, and “smart growth” (e.g. can have to guide decision- prioritizing infill development over making on long-term physical expansion). See Appendix 5 for specific development. strategies from the implementation matrix that align with this energy plan. Mayor’s Energy Task 2008 This task force was created by a This plan recommends various strategies Force Report City Council resolution to for community engagement in energy address the challenges related efficiency, expansion of local renewable to fossil fuel energy: 1) supply energy developments, and growth of a and price uncertainty and 2) local “green economy.” It also examined, global climate change, driven but recommended against, forming a largely by the release of carbon separate municipal utility. See Appendix 4 dioxide from fossil fuel for a summary report. combustion. Note: This report was submitted to, but never adopted by City Council. Northfield GreenStep 2010 A voluntary challenge, In 2015, Northfield achieved “Step 3” in Cities assistance, and recognition this program, the highest level at the program to help cities achieve time. Many of the “steps” include energy their sustainability and quality- efficiency and renewable energy actions. of-life goals.
Northfield City Council 2017 To examine the current state of Strategic priority #6 is “Climate Change Strategic Plan the organization, determine a Impacts.” Desired outcomes are a clear desired future state, establish vision for climate action, an economy priorities, and define a set of resilient to energy and environment actions to achieve specific impacts, and reduced net carbon outcomes. emissions. Northfield Climate 2018 An advisory board to lead and Work in progress, draft plan will be Action Plan Advisory engage the Northfield area presented to City Council in 2019. Select Board community in responding portions of the Energy Subcommittee strategically, rapidly, and Report will be included in Northfield’s responsibly to a changing Climate Action Plan. climate by developing a Climate Action Plan that includes a carbon reduction goal to be presented to the City Council.
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City of Northfield Climate Action Plan Appendix C 3.2 State, Federal, and Global Energy Action The Energy Subcommittee Report comes at a time of rapidly increasing global awareness of the threats posed by fossil fuel consumption and rising concentrations of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. It is therefore bolstered by many existing state, federal, and international energy and carbon reduction targets, reports, and recommendations including:
Title Created Applies to Description Minnesota Renewable 2007 Electric utilities Requires electric utilities to generate at Energy Standard operating in least 25% of their energy from Minnesota renewable sources by 2025. The state's largest utility, Xcel Energy, must hit a higher standard of 30% by 2020. Next Generation Energy 2007 State of Minnesota Requires a reduction by 80% between Act (Minnesota Statutes 2005 and 2050 for state GHG Chapter 216H) emissions, while supporting clean energy, energy efficiency, and supplementing other renewable energy standards in Minnesota. Interim goals were also set: 15% reduction by 2015, and a 30% reduction by 2025. MPCA Climate Solutions 2016 State of Minnesota A report written to evaluate strategies and Economic for Minnesota policy makers to reduce Opportunities (CSEO) GHG emissions while growing our state Initiative economy. Xcel Energy 100% 2018 Xcel Energy customers Xcel Energy commitment to deliver carbon-free electricity 100% carbon-free electricity to all by 2050 commitment customers by 2050. Interim targets are to reduce carbon emissions 80% by 2030, from 2005 levels in the eight states it serves. International Panel on 2018 International The IPCC is the United Nations body for Climate Change (IPCC) assessing the science related to climate change. Its 2018 report states “With clear benefits to people and natural ecosystems, limiting global warming to 1.5°C compared to 2°C could go hand in hand with ensuring a more sustainable and equitable society.”
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City of Northfield Climate Action Plan Appendix C 4. Where We Are Now? An integral part of the Partners in Energy planning process is reviewing historic energy data for Northfield. Xcel Energy provided data on energy use and participation in utility energy conservation programs, as well as savings associated with participation in those programs. The summary below is for 2017. See Appendix 2 for a complete picture of Northfield’s baseline energy data. 4.1 Summary of grid energy use Xcel Energy is the electric and natural gas utility provider for Northfield. Of the 7,421 premises served, 88% are residential, 11% are commercial/industrial, and 1% are municipal. In 2017, Northfield consumed 2.7 million MMBTU of energy. About two-thirds of Northfield’s 2017 energy consumption is from natural gas (67%), and one-third from electricity (33%). Energy data show that of the 2.7 million MMBTU consumed by Northfield, 21% is consumed by residential premises, 78% is consumed by commercial/industrial premises, and 1% is consumed by municipal premises. See Figure 1 for a breakdown of energy consumption by sector and fuel type.
6 FIGURE 1: 2017 ENERGY CONSUMPTION, BY SECTOR AND FUEL TYPE Total Energy Consumption
1% 26% Residential Electricity
15% Commercial and Industrial Electricity
6% Municipal Electricity 1% Residential Natural Gas
Commercial and Industrial Natural Gas Municipal Natural Gas 52%
6 Electricity and natural consumption for all premises in Northfield served by Xcel Energy. Behind-the-meter energy generation is not included in energy consumption data.
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City of Northfield Climate Action Plan Appendix C 4.2 Off-site renewable energy Off-site renewable energy subscriptions offer residents and businesses the opportunity to use renewable energy without having to install equipment. Two popular examples are utility-sponsored renewable programs and community solar gardens. In 2017, 613 Northfield residential premises subscribed to renewable energy, 7 totaling more than 1.8 million kWh of electricity. Sixteen commercial/industrial premises subscribed to renewable energy for a total of 33.6 million kWh of electricity.8 4.3 On-site renewable energy On-site renewable energy, sometimes called “behind-the-meter,” includes solar panels and wind turbines installed on-site to supply some or all of the power for a building.
In 2017, 76 residential and five commercial/industrial premises had solar panels on their home or facility with a total capacity of 554 kW. Two wind turbines — one at Carleton College and one at St. Olaf College — also generated power for those organizations totaling just over 6.7 million kWh. 4.4 Summary of energy conservation program participation Northfield residents and businesses have actively participated in Xcel Energy’s energy conservation programs, saving an average of 1.2% of electricity consumed and 0.7% of natural gas consumed between 2015 and 2017. 9 In 2017, 813 total premises participated in Xcel Energy’s programs, including 11% of residential premises and almost 8% of commercial/industrial premises. By participating in energy conservation programs, premises saved a total of 18,710 MMBTU (0.7% of total energy use in 2017). The most popular programs for residents include Saver’s Switch and rebates for heating and cooling equipment. For commercial/industrial premises, lighting, heating, and cooling efficiency rebates are the most popular programs for saving energy.
7 Subscriptions include both Xcel Energy’s Windsource® and Renewable*Connect® subscription programs, and community solar garden subscriptions. 8 Ibid. 9 Xcel Energy’s energy conservation programs include the portfolio of approved utility energy efficiency and demand management programs.
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City of Northfield Climate Action Plan Appendix C 5. Where We Want to Go 5.1 Vision Northfield strives to ensure all citizens have access to clean, renewable, reliable, and affordable energy systems that will adapt to a changing climate by conserving energy, reducing our community-wide carbon footprint and supporting sustainable energy solutions. 5.2 Carbon reduction goal For community-wide energy metered at the Northfield substation, achieve a 50% reduction in energy- related carbon emissions from 2015 levels by 2030, and achieve 100% carbon-neutrality no later than 2050.10 5.3 Guiding principles Pursue a sustainable energy future with clean energy available to all businesses and residents, with particular support for under-resourced households. Increase overall energy literacy among residents and business owners and operators, including knowledge of where energy comes from, the environmental impacts of different types of energy generation, and what can be done to reduce energy use. Expand renewable energy generation. Lead by example and offer recognition for successful energy efforts. Make energy efficiency feasible, affordable, and achievable for both residents and businesses. Promote economic growth while increasing energy conservation and renewable energy generation. Empower future generations to be self-motivated in working toward a sustainable energy future. Inspire and support a high quality of life for future generations.
10 This goal is based on the International Panel on Climate Change Guide for Policy Makers which says to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius “global net human-caused emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) would need to fall by about 45% from 2010 levels by 2030, reaching ‘net zero’ around 2050.”
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City of Northfield Climate Action Plan Appendix C 6. Strategic Energy Action Priorities This report draws on the City of Northfield’s responsibility to protect our community from crises and insecurity while also providing services that maintain order and enhance quality of life. Modern energy supply has become a basic human right, but the negative impacts of its production and consumption — devastated landscapes, air and water pollution, depleted resources, climate change — present fundamental challenges to the rights of future generations. The City is in the unique position of addressing problems that require collective action — from business, industry, institutions, and residents — and a “systems thinking” approach to benefit everyone in our community. The City can facilitate such an approach by engaging the whole community in energy literacy, awareness, and action; enacting policies and plans that guide us toward a more energy-conscious future; and serving as a role model through innovation and demonstration projects that help normalize forward-thinking concepts. Although it is intended that the City will lead these actions, the success of this plan rests on the will, participation, dedication, and enthusiasm of a broad array of local community members, businesses, and institutions. 6.1 Area A: Education and engagement When considering the immense challenge of reducing carbon emissions while maintaining high quality of life, a fundamental task is to provide our whole community with an understanding of why carbon reduction and “clean” energy is important, plus actions they can take to reduce their own energy footprint and that of their business or organization. The strategies in this section also seek to actively engage Northfield residents, businesses, and institutions in implementation of energy conservation measures and renewable energy options to reduce their operating costs, energy consumption, and carbon emissions. Strategies in this category are focused on easy access to information, knowledge- sharing pathways, and outreach efforts that bring solutions to consumers rather than relying on them to actively seek out information.
EE-1 SMALL CONSUMER ENERGY ENGAGEMENT
Description: Give households, small institutions, and small businesses easy access to energy education, energy conservation, and renewable energy programs that are directly applicable to their energy needs. Residents, small institutions, and small businesses represent the highest number of premises in the Northfield energy data, so broad and accessible outreach strategies will be the primary focus for this group. The City will ensure information will be accessible to all residents, regardless of age or income.
Recommended Actions: o Implement the small consumer section of the “18-month Energy Action Jump Start” described in Appendix 3. o Establish an energy information “one-stop shop” on the City’s website and at City Hall. o Update and refresh information on an ongoing basis with current programs, incentives, and project resources. o Establish a Northfield Energy Task Force including local neighborhood “energy captains” to assist with outreach efforts described in Appendix 3 and the one-stop shop. o Partner with the public schools to create energy education curricular materials and youth-focused events.
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City of Northfield Climate Action Plan Appendix C EE-2 LARGE CONSUMER ENERGY ENGAGEMENT
Description: Engage Northfield’s top energy consumers in efforts to achieve community- wide energy reduction targets and encourage them to share or develop their own in- house energy or carbon reduction plans and targets. These consumers use the largest percentage of energy and therefore can implement the highest impact energy reduction and renewable energy projects.
Recommended Actions: o Implement the large consumers section of the “18-Month Energy Action Jump Start” outlined in Appendix 3. o Conduct 2–3 voluntary gatherings per year for at least three years after Energy Subcommittee Report adoption to facilitate and compare energy and carbon reduction plans, share knowledge and conduct tours of energy conservation and renewable energy projects. o Conduct at least five energy efficiency or renewable energy tours within three years of adopting this report. o In coordination with EE-4, develop an opt-in public energy and carbon emissions reporting platform for Northfield’s largest energy consumers.
EE-3: ENERGY MARKETING AND TOURISM
Description: This strategy focuses on outward engagement by marketing Northfield’s energy conservation and renewable energy projects and programs in a way that attracts and retains tourists, residents, and local businesses. Northfield can position itself as an innovative, future-focused community that couples economic vitality with environmental stewardship in ways that enhance overall quality of life. This strategy takes advantage of existing innovations, such as the college wind turbines, community solar gardens, and community sponsored agriculture, while also envisioning future attractions such as net zero energy buildings and green developments. This strategy also hopes to position Northfield as a model city for energy innovation and sustainability.
Recommended Actions: o Incorporate local energy initiatives into Northfield’s tourism marketing materials. o Create a “sustainability tour” of local turbines, solar developments, CSAs, etc. o Consider strategies for recruiting sustainability- and energy-focused businesses to existing Northfield spaces and/or a future green business park or industrial development. o For any new residential or industrial development, evaluate the potential marketing value of green building construction and energy strategies.
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City of Northfield Climate Action Plan Appendix C EE-4: ENERGY REPORTING AND TRANSPARENCY
Description: Increase energy awareness and engagement in Northfield’s energy reduction efforts by making community-wide energy data readily available.
Recommended Actions: o Develop a consistent reporting format for both Xcel Energy data from the Northfield substation and behind-the-meter data from privately owned renewable energy systems. o Establish a permanent page on the City’s website to publish community-wide energy use from Xcel Energy data at the Northfield substation, renewable energy production, and green power purchases. o Compile calculations showing how much of Northfield’s current total energy use (total of both substation data and behind-the-meter use) is renewable. o Publish annual updates by March 31 of each year including progress toward energy reduction targets. o Consider launching a real-time City building energy use dashboard for public/online display and education.
6.2 Area B: Policy and planning The City of Northfield will join other leading communities and reinforce consistency with its own Comprehensive Plan by incorporating more specific energy and carbon reduction language in existing policies and planning documents. The goal of this section is to evolve Northfield’s built environment into one that is more affordable, equitable, and resilient, as well as to institutionalize a low-carbon approach by weaving practical energy conservation and renewable energy opportunities into formal City of Northfield policies and planning activities. Strategies in this category are particularly focused on the existing environment, but overlap with practices related to land use and transportation.
Energy efficiency policies and programs that may have seemed far-fetched in the recent past are becoming increasingly common. Cities across the country are beginning to implement zero-energy building performance codes,11 efficiency standards for rental housing,12 and energy disclosure policies for buildings, 13 and home sales and rentals.14 The U.S. Department of Energy has a Zero Energy Ready Home program that “supports and recognizes builders for their leadership in increasing energy efficiency, improving indoor air quality, and making homes zero energy ready.” Policy examples and resources like these are growing rapidly as cities strive to have more efficient, more affordable, and better quality building stock.
PP-1 BUILDING ENERGY USE BENCHMARKING AND DISCLOSURE
11 The California Public Utilities Commission now enforces net zero energy performance statewide for all single family homes and Washington D.C. is currently working toward adopting a residential zero-energy policy. 12 The City of Boulder adopted the country’s first standard for rental housing. Source: Rocky Mountain Institute: Better Rentals, Better City 13 City of Minneapolis: Energy Benchmarking and Transparency, Commercial and Multifamily Residential Buildings 14 City of Minneapolis: Time of Rent Energy Disclosure (2021) and Time of Sale Energy Disclosure (2020)
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City of Northfield Climate Action Plan Appendix C Description: Protect consumers, encourage better buildings and raise energy awareness by establishing a building energy benchmarking program and exploring policies that require owners to disclose building utility use relative to benchmark data as a pre- condition of any building sale or space lease. This could include providing information such as an energy audit report, benchmark data, or housing energy rating score (HERS).
Recommended Actions o Establish an opt-in energy benchmarking program for commercial buildings including tools, resources and engagement.15 o Research energy benchmarking requirements in other cities.16 o Research energy use disclosure policies in other states or cities (e.g. Minneapolis, MN and Boulder, CO) and reference other disclosure requirements (e.g. radon) as examples. o Develop an educational fact sheet for realtors, lenders, city building officials, and others to educate buyers and renters about things they should know related to building energy use before making a purchase or signing a lease. o Make instructions on how to access building energy use, obtain a HERS rating, or conduct Xcel Energy audits available at City Hall and on the City website. o Support any future state-level legislation regarding building energy use disclosure.
PP-2 BUILDING ENERGY EFFICIENCY STANDARDS
Description: There is never a better time to achieve meaningful energy efficiency than during new construction and gut renovations. This strategy proposes strengthening energy efficiency requirements for both of these key moments of opportunity.
Recommended Actions: o Develop processes and procedures to enforce the existing energy-related goals of the Northfield Comprehensive Plan (See Appendix 5). o Develop procedures that will strongly enforce existing energy codes. o Consider requiring that all publicly funded buildings participate in Xcel Energy’s Energy Efficient Buildings (EEB), Energy Design Assistance (EDA), or other similar programs that provide comprehensive energy efficiency recommendations. o Develop guidelines for City-funded buildings to achieve an energy use intensity (EUI) 30% or more below the suggested ENERGY SMART® Portfolio Manager® average for that building type. o Develop and distribute education and outreach tools that provide local builders and building owners with information on energy efficiency resources such as Xcel Energy’s Efficient New Home Construction, Energy Efficient Buildings (EEB),
15 City of St. Paul: Energy Benchmarking Program 16 City of Chicago: Energy Benchmarking Program
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City of Northfield Climate Action Plan Appendix C and Energy Design Assistance (EDA) evaluations, the US Department of Energy Net Zero Homes certification, or similar programs. o Explore ways of incorporating more specific energy efficiency requirements or stretch codes17 into new building or gut renovation projects.
PP-3 ENERGY-CONSCIOUS STRATEGIC GROWTH
Description: Identify the energy and emissions impacts of new growth due to industrial or residential developments. Enforce and build on existing strategic growth policies in the Comprehensive Plan that prioritize infill and redevelopment before expansion (See Appendix 5).
Recommended Actions: o Develop procedures to review energy and carbon emissions impacts of new developments relative to City of Northfield carbon reduction goals. o Report annually to the Planning Committee, Environmental Quality Commission and City Council on how strategic growth strategies in the Comprehensive Plan that emphasize infill over expansion or energy efficiency have been implemented to date and how they are being applied to upcoming developments. o Meet with City Departments and Commissions that have authority over applicable Comprehensive Plan strategies to review how their responsibility for implementing those strategies intersects with advancement of the City’s energy and climate goals. o Model projected City growth over the next 50 years and resulting effect on energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. Report results to the Community Development Department, Planning Commission, Environmental Quality Commission and related City Departments & Commissions. o Consider how renewable energy and net zero energy buildings can be incorporated into new residential or commercial/industrial developments
PP-4 FORWARD-THINKING UTILITY SYSTEM EXPANSION
Description: Evaluate opportunities to incorporate forward-thinking district and renewable energy systems into City planning for new and existing developments.
Recommended Actions: o As part of any new development conversation, study the cost, energy and carbon impacts in comparison to utility options that propose lower energy and carbon intensive outcomes verses a business-as-usual approach.
17 Stretch codes are jurisdictional energy efficiency requirements that exceed state or federal codes.
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City of Northfield Climate Action Plan Appendix C o Conduct a concept study to assess opportunities for district energy systems that utilize current resources and envision a lower carbon approach to new developments. o Conduct a comprehensive life cycle cost–benefit analysis (considering cost, energy, and carbon) on any new development over 100 acres to determine whether district energy or on-site renewable energy should be considered in combination with — or in lieu of — running existing utilities to a new location.
PP-5 RENEWABLE ENERGY DEVELOPMENT
Description: Renewable energy technologies are rapidly becoming less expensive, more productive, and easier to deploy on both private and public properties. Large-scale renewable energy projects including commercial-scale wind turbines and community solar gardens are predominant in Northfield, thanks to our rural environment and availability of undeveloped land. As both small and large scale renewable energy technologies advance, the City and its citizens could benefit from a more intentional, planned approach to incorporating them into our buildings and landscapes to assure we are taking full advantage of the energy production and resilience benefits, balanced with other land use priorities.
Recommended Actions: o When evaluating current and future land development plans including any updates to the Northfield Land Development Code, consider intentionally incorporating areas for large-scale renewable energy developments. o Develop ways to support and encourage privately owned on-site renewable energy and energy storage technology. o Compile renewable energy grants and other funding opportunities, partner with local organizations, such as Northfield Area Community Solar and Growing Up Healthy, and develop targeted outreach campaigns that will support on-site renewable energy installations for income-qualified residents and affordable housing properties. o Develop policies that require all new homes and businesses be electric vehicle (EV) ready by a fixed date. o Develop ways to encourage solar installations or solar-ready construction strategies on homes and businesses that are well-situated to take advantage of solar technologies.
PP-6 COMMUNITY ENERGY RESILIENCE PLAN
Description: Power outages and energy-related emergencies can have especially profound impacts on Northfield’s most vulnerable populations and its small business community. These events could result from floods, tornadoes, excessive heat, extreme cold and snow or non-weather related utility system outages. Given the increasing
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City of Northfield Climate Action Plan Appendix C frequency and intensity of extreme weather events in Northfield, it is important to plan for these events in ways that both protect vulnerable citizens, particularly senior citizens and under-resourced community members, and ensure business continuity. A community energy resilience plan would help identify and connect people in need with available resources in an energy emergency.
Recommended Actions: o Inventory local backup generator locations and capacity at schools, colleges, businesses, and residences. Identify which facilities can support local residents in an extended power outage. o Identify vulnerable households and conduct targeted outreach and energy reliability assistance to help them avoid or react during an energy emergency. o Develop outreach materials that will assist and encourage local businesses and residents to proactively develop their own energy resilience plan in preparation for energy outages and emergencies. 6.3 Area C: Innovation and demonstration Meeting ambitious carbon emissions reduction targets will require a new approach to many standard practices. We therefore need ways to test unfamiliar concepts as we prepare to scale up those that prove to be both feasible and effective. The goal of this section is to develop and learn from pilot projects that demonstrate innovative solutions to lowering community-wide carbon emissions. Demonstration projects could be fully implemented by the City of Northfield, Northfield residents, businesses, and institutions, or implemented through public–private partnerships. The City of Northfield could spearhead such projects or provide grants, loans, or other incentives that encourage others to lead by example. City buildings, public school buildings, and affordable housing are called out as priorities given their potential to maximize the outreach and educational opportunities associated with innovative demonstration projects.
ID-1 DEEP ENERGY EFFICIENCY RETROFITS
Description: Deep energy retrofits are improvements to existing buildings intended to significantly increase their energy efficiency. They could include updated insulation, windows, energy efficient heating and cooling systems, or installation of on-site renewable energy technologies. There is never a better time to achieve deep energy efficiency than during new construction and gut renovations, so this strategy proposes encouraging demonstration projects that promote this type of building retrofit and providing construction firms with the education and resources to implement successful deep energy efficiency projects.
Recommended Actions: o Develop educational information and a targeted outreach campaign to owners, developers, and contractors. o Build, partner on, or incentivize at least three deep energy efficiency projects within City limits and highlight as demonstration projects.
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City of Northfield Climate Action Plan Appendix C o Evaluate opportunities, grants, and other incentives to support weatherization and deep energy efficiency retrofits in all housing with particular focus on affordable housing developments.18
ID-2 NET ZERO ENERGY BUILDINGS
Description: In order to meet local, state, and international carbon reduction goals, building construction must become net zero energy. Net zero energy buildings produce as much or more of their own energy with onsite renewable energy as they use within a year. The design industry recognized this and developed the Architecture 2030 challenge which aims to “rapidly transform the global built environment from the major contributor of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to a central part of the solution to the climate crisis.” The U.S. Department of Energy focused on the construction industry by developing its Zero Energy Ready Home certification. Cities and states are already implementing policies that require all new homes to be net zero energy by certain dates. A concept which once seemed futuristic is now poised for broad implementation. This section aims to begin bringing net zero energy buildings to Northfield.
Recommended Actions: o Develop educational information and a targeted outreach campaign to qualified owners, developers, and contractors. Reference the U.S. Department of Energy Zero Energy Ready Home, the Net Zero Energy Coalition, and the Rocky Mountain Institute’s Pathways to Zero programs as a starting point. o Identify firms qualified to design, develop, or construct net zero energy buildings and encourage them to lead by example through projects in Northfield. o Explore opportunities to build, incentivize, or partner on at least one net zero energy project within City limits. Prioritize municipal and education building projects with high potential for educational outreach, and affordable housing developments that will reduce operating costs and improve quality for under- resourced residents.
ID-3 STRATEGIC ELECTRIFICATION
Description: The public electric grid is getting rapidly greener thanks to large-scale wind and solar development. Xcel Energy has recently pledged to provide 100% carbon-free electricity by 2050. Privately owned, on-site, renewable electricity technologies, such as rooftop solar PV, are being rapidly deployed thanks to financial incentives and technological advances that have increased productivity and decreased cost. Energy storage technologies (including electric vehicles) are becoming more mainstream, and smart grid infrastructure will allow renewable energy to be used at all hours of the day.
18 U.S. Department of Energy: Low Income Community Energy Solutions
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City of Northfield Climate Action Plan Appendix C The path to carbon neutrality is truly conceivable given a willingness to lean into electricity as the primary form of energy. This requires electrification of equipment and appliances that are commonly powered by gas, oil, or propane.
Recommended Actions: o Review existing nationwide programs promoting electrification and present a written summary to the Environmental Quality Commission for consideration of ideas that could be implemented in Northfield. o Establish outreach and incentive programs to promote a switch to electricity for specific equipment and appliances (e.g. lawn mowers, hot water heaters, etc.). o Develop education and outreach information on electric forms of heating, such as cold climate heat pumps. o Require that all new homes and businesses be built electric vehicle (EV) ready. o Develop ways to encourage solar installations or “solar ready” construction strategies on homes and businesses that are well-sited to take advantage of solar technologies. 6.4 Area D: Support and continuation The goal of this section is to establish a reliable, multi-level approach to implementing and sustaining this plan into the future. We must also establish processes that allow the recommendations and resources listed in this plan to be regularly updated in alignment with technological, financial, and policy advancements at the local, state, and federal level. The greater our dedication and commitment to implementing the strategies in this plan, the greater its benefits will be. There is no quick fix to the environmental challenges that now demand strong focus on how we create and use energy. Thus, dedicated staff, strong, community-wide collaboration, and a long-term approach are key to making progress on the Energy Subcommittee Report and moving our community toward a lower-carbon future.
SC-1 CITY ENERGY COORDINATOR POSITION
Description: Assure the goals of this plan are met by establishing a City Energy Coordinator position, on its own or as part of a City Sustainability Coordinator position, to facilitate the above recommendations. This plan proposes a wide array of engagement activities, policy research, and demonstration project facilitation efforts. Although volunteers can be recruited to assist with some of these tasks, a full-time paid position will provide much-needed continuity and dramatically increase the rate of success.
Recommended Actions: o Hire a qualified energy coordinator that reports to the City Administrator. This person shall create and implement the programs described in this plan. o Establish an Energy Task Force to assist the Energy Coordinator with energy outreach efforts, development partnerships, etc. See Appendix 6 for a sample energy task force description.
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City of Northfield Climate Action Plan Appendix C SC-2 ADVANCING AND UPDATING THE PLAN
Description: Regularly update and advance the Energy Subcommittee Report in response to progress to date and ongoing technological, financial, and policy developments. This plan should be seen as a working document that can only be effective if it keeps pace with rapidly changing energy-related developments and opportunities.
Recommended Actions: o Energy Coordinator and Energy Task force shall deliver a bi-annual Northfield energy “report card” to the Planning Commission, Environmental Quality Commission noting progress on this plan, recognizing achievements, and targeting areas in need of further action. o Present a bi-annual progress summary to the City Council. o Every five years, update the goals and strategic priorities to align with current technological, economic, and policy developments.
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City of Northfield Climate Action Plan Appendix C 7. Resources and Funding There are a variety of City and community partners that are poised to assist with implementation of the Energy Subcommittee Report goals. A vigorous outreach campaign will help to bring potential partners on board and build collective action. Furthermore, key strategies from this plan will be incorporated into the broader Climate Action Plan and supported within that context. These local resources are long-term and thus offer continuity through the useful life of this plan and momentum for future updates. The external resources and funding suggestions noted here are by no means complete and will change over time. It is essential for the lead implementers of this plan to frequently review these resources and funding opportunities to stay abreast of current options. 7.1 Existing and potential city resources City of Northfield Community Development Department. City of Northfield Program Coordinator. Energy Coordinator position — a dedicated facilitator recommended as part of this report. Environmental Quality Commission — provides review and endorsement to City Council, assists with marketing engagement, and recognition programs. Planning and Zoning — aligns Comprehensive Plan goals, updates and implementation with Energy Subcommittee Report recommendations. Housing & Redevelopment Authority — reviews and collaborates on energy efficiency policies, building energy audits and efficiency, and net zero energy demonstration projects. Northfield Economic Development Authority (EDA) — adopts the goals of this report as it promotes the economic, commercial, housing, industrial development and redevelopment of the city. Engineering Department — considers incorporating strategic priorities in this report as it proposes and executes projects. Utility bill credits from community solar subscription — potential fund source for energy coordinator position or small grants and incentives. Utility savings from energy efficiency projects — potential fund source for more energy projects. 7.2 Potential community partners Northfield Energy Task Force and “energy captains” (recommended as part of this report). Greater Northfield Sustainability Collaborative (GNSC) — a collective group of representatives from the colleges and community that implement projects and assist with facilitating connections between community needs and college contacts. Northfield Public Schools. Carleton College — resources include the community and civic engagement office (CCCE), sustainability office, plus faculty, staff, and students engaged in sustainability and energy projects. St. Olaf College — community engagement office, facilities office, plus faculty, staff, and students. Rotary Club — the Northfield Rotary Climate Action Team (RCAT) has a sustainability committee focused on implementing projects that enhance the sustainability and resilience of the Northfield community.
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City of Northfield Climate Action Plan Appendix C Northfield Earth Day committee — the annual Northfield Earth Day Celebration is a forum for the community to come together to celebrate progress on issues related to climate action and mobilize next steps toward a more sustainable Northfield. Northfield Chamber of Commerce — The Northfield Area Chamber of Commerce helps cultivate a healthy business environment for the Northfield area. Northfield Enterprise Center — conducts lunch and learns and provides business resources and assistance. Northfield Convention and Visitors’ Bureau. Northfield Downtown Development Corporation (NDDC) — founded to support, strengthen, and grow Northfield’s unique downtown district. The NDDC is made up of business owners, buildings owners, and engaged residents who value the role downtown plays in Northfield’s vibrancy. Other local businesses, service clubs, building managers, developers, and contractors Northfield community members and volunteers. 7.3 External resources and potential funding opportunities Xcel Energy’s Partners in Energy offering — committed to supporting 18 months of implementation efforts focused on energy engagement, audits, and efficiency. State of Minnesota Commerce Department — offers loans, grants, credits, or rebates for energy-related improvements to homes, seeking assistance with energy bills, and other programs available to Minnesotans to help with energy conservation, efficiency, and renewable energy projects. Clean Energy Resource Teams (CERTs) — connects individuals and communities in Minnesota to the resources they need to identify and implement community-based clean energy projects. United States Department of Energy — mission to ensure America's security and prosperity by addressing its energy, environmental, and nuclear challenges through transformative science and technology solutions. Bush Foundation — the Bush Prize celebrates organizations with a track record of successful community problem solving. Rocky Mountain Institute — RMI engages businesses, communities, institutions, and entrepreneurs to accelerate the adoption of market-based solutions that cost-effectively shift from fossil fuels to efficiency and renewables.
As noted above, this is not a comprehensive list and should be regularly reviewed, expanded and updated.
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City of Northfield Climate Action Plan Appendix C 8. Conclusion This report and the action items included is a first attempt by the City of Northfield to aggressively work on energy efficiency and reduction of energy use. The City of Northfield staff, elected officials, residents, businesses and institutions will all need to be involved in a variety of ways to carry out the actions. As changes in technology and other opportunities arise the actions in this report will be amended.
Given the extremely serious nature of anticipated effects of our changing climate we have a responsibility to our community and beyond to take action. The City has made a commitment in its Strategic Plan and has begun to carry that out by starting to increase staff capacity. Implementing the actions in this document will require an even stronger commitment in terms of staff time, financial resources and policy choices that help reach the goals that have been set forth.
Northfield is a community which cares about its residents, businesses and the natural environment. Achieving the goals outlined in this plan will increase engagement with under-served populations, promote economic development of our businesses, strengthen our tourism and improve public health for our entire community. We believe the strategic priorities identified in this report will put Northfield on its path towards achieving carbon neutrality.
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City of Northfield Climate Action Plan Appendix C 9. Appendices Appendix 1: Acknowledgements
Appendix 2: Northfield’s Baseline Energy Analysis
Appendix 3: 18-month Energy Action Jump Start
Appendix 4: 2008 Mayor’s Energy Task Force Report Summary
Appendix 5: Comprehensive Plan Implementation Matrix Excerpts
Appendix 6: Sample Energy Task Force Solicitation
Appendix 7: Xcel Energy Partners in Energy Plan Development Process
Appendix 8: Glossary of Terms
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City of Northfield Climate Action Plan Appendix C Appendix 1: Acknowledgements Thank you to the following individuals and organizations who contributed many hours of service to the Northfield’s Climate Action Plan Advisory Board’s Energy Subcommittee. Their perspective and input were essential to developing this plan.
Climate Action Plan Advisory Board Representatives Bruce Anderson Dakota County Weatherization & Energy Efficiency Programs Martha Larson Manager of Campus Energy and Sustainability, Carleton College Energy Subcommittee Chair Climate Action Plan Advisory Board Energy Subcommittee Bill Jokela Community representative Bruce McKendry Community Representative Charles Hayes Sheldahl, a Flex Company David Frost Just Food Coop Joe Gasior Northfield Plant Engineering Manager, Post Consumer Brands; Northfield Planning Commission David Higgs Educational Associate, Carleton College Don Anderson Community representative, Retired energy engineer Eric Johnson Community representative, Former teacher at Northfield Public Schools Jennyffer Barrientos Coordinator, LINK Center Jerry Ehn Northfield Hospital and Clinics Jim Kulseth Director of Facilities and Grounds, Northfield Public Schools Kevin Larson Facilities Director, St. Olaf College Laura Tiano Growing Up Healthy; Healthy Community Initiatives Lee Dilley Rotary Climate Action Team (RCAT); 2008 Mayor’s Energy Task Force Matt Rohn Professor, St. Olaf College; Board Member, Northfield Area Community Solar Richard Debeau Rotary Club Tony Huettl Community representative City of Northfield Beth Kallestad Program Coordinator Bryanna Paarmann GIS Technician David Bennett Public Works Director/City Engineer Rhonda Pownell Mayor Partners in Energy Team Marisa Bayer Partners in Energy Lead Community Facilitator Jamie Johnson Partners in Energy Community Facilitator Tami Gunderzik Manager of Partners in Energy, Xcel Energy Trisha Duncan Community Relations Manager, Xcel Energy Yvonne Pfeifer Community Energy Efficiency Manager, Xcel Energy
Appendix 2: Northfield’s Baseline Energy Analysis An integral part of the Partners in Energy planning process is reviewing historic energy data for Northfield, which includes data on energy use, participation in utility energy conservation programs, and
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City of Northfield Climate Action Plan Appendix C savings associated with participation in those programs. Data was provided by Xcel Energy for all Northfield premises for 2015–2017.19 The data helped the Energy Subcommittee understand Northfield’s energy use and opportunities for energy conservation and renewable energy. Data included in this section will also establish a baseline against which progress toward goals will be compared to in the future. Premises A premise is a unique identifier for the location of electricity or natural gas service. In most cases, it is a facility or building location. In Northfield, there are 7,421 premises served by Xcel Energy. The distribution of premises among residential, commercial and industrial, and municipal sectors is shown in Figure 2.
FIGURE 2: DISTRIBUTION OF PREMISES, 2017
Premise Count
88%
1% 11%
Residential Commercial and Industrial Municipal
Energy consumption Northfield premises consumed a total of 265.7 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity and 18.7 million therms of natural gas in 2017. Combined, all sectors spent $31.2 million dollars on energy in 2017.20 Although the majority of premises are residential, most electricity and natural gas are consumed by commercial and industrial premises (
Figure 3).
19 The electricity and natural gas data in this plan complies with Xcel Energy’s 15 x 15 privacy rules. No premises were removed from the summary. 20 This excludes any taxes and fees.
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City of Northfield Climate Action Plan Appendix C Commercial and industrial premises consumed 80% of the electricity and 77% of the natural gas consumed in Northfield in 2017, spending an average of $27,000 on electricity and $4,600 on natural gas per premise per year.21 Residential premises consumed 18% of electricity and 22% of natural gas, spending an average of $900 on electricity and $400 on natural gas per premise in 2017. The remaining energy was consumed by municipal premises, representing 2% of electricity and 1% of natural gas.
FIGURE 3: ENERGY CONSUMPTION BY FUEL SOURCE, 2017
Electricity Consumption Natural Gas Consumption
22% 18%
1% 2%
80% 77%
Residential Residential Commercial and Industrial Commercial and Industrial
Municipal Municipal
21 The commercial and industrial customer usage and spending can be highly variable, which can have an impact on customer averages.
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City of Northfield Climate Action Plan Appendix C FIGURE 4: TOTAL ENERGY CONSUMPTION, 2017
Total Energy Consumption
21%
1%
78%
Residential Commercial and Industrial Municipal
Greenhouse gas emissions Energy-related greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions have slightly decreased since 2015. The commercial and industrial sector accounts for most of Northfield’s emissions (Figure 5), but has reduced its carbon emissions since 2015 by almost 4%. When looking at emissions by fuel source for baseline years,22 electricity has consistently contributed to just over half of Northfield’s annual GHG emissions (Figure 6).
22 2015, 2016, and 2017.
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City of Northfield Climate Action Plan Appendix C FIGURE 5: ENERGY-RELATED GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS, BY SECTOR
Greenhouse Gas Emissions by Sector
250 208 200 193 4 3 200 3 Thousands
150 162 151 156
MT CO2e MT 100
50
42 38 40 - 2015 2016 2017 Residential Commercial and Industrial Municipal
FIGURE 6: ENERGY-RELATED GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS, BY FUEL SOURCE
Greenhouse Gas Emissions by Fuel Source
250 208 193 200 200 Thousands
99 150 94 99
MT CO2e MT 100
50 109 98 100
0 2015 2016 2017 Electricity Natural Gas
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City of Northfield Climate Action Plan Appendix C Energy conservation Energy conservation is an important first step toward energy resiliency. By increasing efficiency, residents and businesses can save energy and money. Xcel Energy offers a wide variety of energy conservation programs to help residents and businesses increase energy efficiency. Between 2015 and 2017, annual energy conservation savings have amounted to an average of 1.2% of electricity consumption and 0.7% of natural gas consumption.
23 FIGURE 7: ELECTRICITY SAVINGS FROM ENERGY CONSERVATION PROGRAM PARTICIPATION, BY SECTOR
Electricity Savings 6,000,000
5,000,000
4,000,000
3,000,000
kWh 5,148,014
2,000,000
1,000,000 1,926,348 2,021,360
- 206,180 210,773 168,461 2015 2016 2017 Residential Commercial and Industrial
23 Commercial and Industrial electricity savings includes municipal premises.
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City of Northfield Climate Action Plan Appendix C 24 FIGURE 8: NATURAL GAS SAVINGS FROM ENERGY CONSERVATION PROGRAM PARTICIPATION, BY SECTOR
Natural Gas Savings 250,000
200,000
150,000 204,227
therms 100,000
89,985 50,000 22,227
32,113 28,967 22,397 - 2015 2016 2017 Residential Commercial and Industrial
Table 1 summarizes residential and commercial/industrial participation in Xcel Energy’s energy conservation programs for the past three years. Total participation in residential conservation programs has increased slightly since 2015. In 2017, Northfield residents saved 168,000 kWh and 22,000 therms, 0.5% of total residential energy use. Residential program participation has been highest in the Saver’s Switch rate savings program. Participation in home efficiency rebates, including the replacement of heating and cooling equipment, has also seen high participation. Lighting rebates have been most popular among commercial and industrial customers. In 2017, commercial and industrial premises saved 2 million kWh and 90,000 therms, representing 0.7% of total sector energy use.
24 Commercial and Industrial natural gas savings includes municipal.
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City of Northfield Climate Action Plan Appendix C 25 TABLE 1: RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL/INDUSTRIAL CONSERVATION PROGRAM PARTICIPATION SUMMARY
Program Name 2015 2016 2017 Efficient New Home Construction 9 16 3 Home Energy Audit 29 11 17 Home Energy Savings Program 4 7 - Home Energy Squad 26 4 8 Insulation Rebate 2 2 5 Low-Income Home Energy Squad 8 - 1 Multi-Family Energy Savings Program - 8 - Refrigerator Recycling 24 20 19 Residential Cooling 108 135 123 Residential Heating 137 147 145 Residential Saver's Switch 20 45 383
Smart Thermostat - 47 22 Whole Home Efficiency - 1 - Water Heater Rebate 19 19 20 Total 386 462 746 Residential Program Name 2015 2016 2017 Computer Efficiency - 1 - Cooling Efficiency 2 7 6 Custom Efficiency 6 - 6 Data Center Efficiency - - - Efficiency Controls - - - Electric Rate Savings 3 7 1 Energy Design Assistance - - 2 Energy Efficient Buildings 1 - - Fluid System Optimization - 3 - Foodservice Equipment - 1 5 Heating Efficiency 4 5 8 Lighting Efficiency 19 22 18 Motor Efficiency 1 6 5
Multi-Family Building Efficiency - 6 5 Process Efficiency - - - Recommissioning 4 12 - Saver's Switch For Business 2 28 1 Turn Key Services - - - Small Business Lighting 8 4 10 Total 50 102 67 Commercial/Industrial
Renewable energy Northfield has made strides to support both off-site and on-site renewable energy generators. Supporting renewable energy development is important to ensuring Northfield remains resilient to future impacts of climate change. Off-site renewable energy Renewable energy generators, such as solar panels or wind turbines, are off-site from the facility or home that they are powering. We see support for this type of renewable energy through participation in
25 Commercial and Industrial Conservation Improvement Program participation includes municipal premises.
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City of Northfield Climate Action Plan Appendix C utility-sponsored renewable energy subscription programs and community solar garden subscriptions. Table 2 shows the breakdown of renewable energy subscriptions in 2017.
TABLE 2: RENEWABLE ENERGY SUBSCRIPTIONS, 2017
Windsource® Residential Commercial & Industrial Subscribers 437 3 Subscription Amount (kWh) 1,370,700 14,707,249 % of Sector Electricity Use 2.9% 6.8% Community Solar Gardens Subscribers 143 2 Production Allocation (kWh) 252,528 9,223,272 % of Sector Electricity Use 0.5% 3.6% Renewable*Connect26 Subscribers 33 11 Subscription Amount (kWh) 196,031 9,711,809 % of Sector Electricity Use 0.4% 4.6%
On-Site renewable energy: Behind the meter Renewable energy generators, such as solar panels or wind turbines, are installed on-site to supply some or all of the power for that facility or home.
TABLE 3: BEHIND THE METER ENERGY GENERATORS, 2017
Solar*Rewards® 27 Residential Commercial & Industrial Installations 76 5 Total Capacity (kW) 487 67 Total Energy Produced (kWh) 310,468 43,677 Wind Turbines Carleton College St. Olaf College Total Energy Produced (kWh) 3,863,546 2,840,218
26 Renewable*Connect subscriber data for 2018. 27 Solar*Rewards is an incentivized program, so monthly payments are made to the owner of the solar system in exchange for Renewable Energy Credits (RECs) for the energy produced by the solar system. Data for 2017.
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City of Northfield Climate Action Plan Appendix C Appendix 3: 18-month Energy Action Jump Start The 18-month Energy Action Jump Start includes 14 strategies and near-term targets to help Northfield hit the ground running towards meeting our carbon reduction targets. Implementation of these strategies and achieving near-term targets will require a lot capacity building and problem solving. The City of Northfield will lead these strategies, but additional human, financial, and policy resources will be needed to ensure we are successful. Xcel Energy’s Partners in Energy will provide marketing and communications support, data tracking and measurement, program expertise, and project management to keep our team on track during the 18-month implementation.
At the core of the 18-month Energy Action Jump Start is accessible education and outreach. This will ensure everyone in the Northfield community is aware of the benefits of energy efficiency and renewable energy, and resources are available. The City of Northfield will make an effort to ensure materials are available in different formats and other languages, as needed.
Our outreach is focused on two target audiences:
Small Consumers: inclusive of all residents, including homeowners and renters, small businesses, and nonprofit organizations. Large Consumers: inclusive of local institutions, such as the colleges and hospital, large businesses, and industrial businesses.
Detailed strategies were created for each target audience and include specific tasks, near-term targets, outreach tactics, implementation team, and resources. Near-term targets will be achieved by the end of 2020 and measured against a 2017 baseline.
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City of Northfield Climate Action Plan Appendix C Part 1: Small consumer strategies Small Consumer Strategy A) Create centralized, quick-reference guide on energy efficiency and renewable energy options for residents Description The centralized, quick-reference guide will make it easy for residents to learn about different energy efficiency and renewable energy options. The guide will be available electronically and hard copy. Implementation Team City of Northfield and Tasks Provide recommendations for information and tips to include in guide Print hard copies of guide Host guide on City website Post social media content on City social media to promote guide’s availability Share guide with community partners to share with their network Support Energy Task Force distribution at community events
Northfield Energy Task Force Provide recommendations for information and tips to include in guide Distribute guide at City and community events
Partners in Energy Draft content for guide Format and design guide Create social media content promoting guide’s availability Timeline Q3 2019 Goal(s) Create and publish guide Resources Webpage(s) to host guide on City website Hard copy of guide Information and tips to include in guide Partners in Energy hours to help write and design guide Community partners for dissemination, such as Greater Northfield Sustainability Coalition, Rotary Club, Carleton College, St. Olaf College, Northfield School District, and By All Means Graphics Funding to assist with printing costs
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City of Northfield Climate Action Plan Appendix C Small Consumer Strategy B) Promote home energy audits through city-wide marketing campaign Description Home energy audits are an easy way for residents to learn about energy efficiency opportunities in their home. Home Energy Squad® offers custom energy-saving solutions in one visit. Homeowners and renters who live in 1–4 unit buildings are eligible to participate and free visits are available to income-qualified households. Implementation Team City of Northfield and Tasks Identify communication channels to promote information Host information on City website Promote home energy audits on City social media Share information materials with community partners to share with their network
Northfield Energy Task Force Identify City and community events to table at Identify volunteers to help with tabling Identify neighborhood captains to help promote Home Energy Squad in their neighborhood Table at City and community events
Partners in Energy Create informational flyer/postcard Create social media posts promoting energy audits Train neighborhood captains Create tabling kit for volunteers
Neighborhood Captains Attend training Conduct targeted outreach in neighborhoods
Home Energy Squad Share eligibility and program information with implementation team Deliver energy audits Timeline Q4 2019–Q4 2020 Goal(s) 100 Home Energy Squad visits completed in 2020 o Baseline: 8 Resources Information materials about Webpage(s) to host materials Community events for tabling Volunteers to table Tabling kits Volunteers to be neighborhood captains Training materials for volunteers Community partners for dissemination, such as the Greater Northfield Sustainability Coalition, ISAIAH, Northfield Rotary Club, Northfield School District, and Northfield Community Education
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City of Northfield Climate Action Plan Appendix C Small Consumer Strategy C) Design city-wide challenge for residents to subscribe 100% to renewable energy Description Renewable energy is important to helping our community reduce its carbon footprint. A renewable energy challenge will help promote renewable energy subscriptions, which are an easy way for all residents to access renewable energy. The challenge will be for residents to subscribe to 100% renewable electricity. Implementation Team City of Northfield and Tasks Promote challenge on City communication channels Provide input on challenge structure and rules Identify dates for challenge Identify prizes or incentives to offer to participants Create entry form Engage Neighborhood Captains and Energy Task Force to conduct door-to- door outreach or host block parties to promote Share challenge information with community partners to share with their network
Northfield Energy Task Force Table at City and community events to encourage registration Engage in door-to-door marketing or energy block parties Provide input on challenge structure and rules
Partners in Energy Assist with creating challenge structure and rules Create promotional materials for challenge, including flyers and social media content Provide funding towards prize or incentives to offer to participants Create structure and materials for energy block parties Timeline Q1 2020–Q2 2020 Goal(s) Double the number of residents who subscribe 100% of their electricity to renewable energy o Baseline: 86 Resources Challenge structure Challenge rules Prize or incentive for challenge participants Webpage(s) to host challenge information Informational materials to promote challenge Entry form for prizes or incentives Data to track progress towards challenge goal Volunteers to table and promote during events Community partners to promote challenge, such as Greater Northfield Sustainability Coalition, ISAIAH, and Northfield Rotary Club
Small Consumer Strategy D) Targeted outreach to under-resourced residents at manufactured home parks to promote energy efficiency upgrades Description Under-resourced households, which include low-income and fixed-income residents, typically experience energy burden at a higher rate than others. These
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City of Northfield Climate Action Plan Appendix C households can greatly benefit from energy efficiency upgrades. There are free programs and resources available to income-qualified households that would be the focus of this outreach. Implementation Team City of Northfield and Tasks Identify local service provider partners Coordinate outreach with service provider partners Identify date(s) for outreach Support door-to-door outreach Share information with service providers and community partners to distribute within their network Share newsletter article about success
Northfield Energy Task Force Support door-to-door outreach
Partners in Energy Coordinate outreach with service provider partners Create information materials and handouts Translate information materials (if needed) Write newsletter article about outreach and success
Growing Up Healthy Identify manufactured homes for outreach Identify date(s) for outreach Conduct door-to-door outreach Distribute flyers or emails to manufactured home park residents about outreach
Home Energy Squad Share eligibility and program information with implementation team Deliver energy audits Timeline Q3 2019–Q4 2019 Goal(s) Conduct outreach at both manufactured home parks in Northfield 50 participants in Xcel Energy’s low income programs: Home Energy Savings Program (HESP) and Low Income Home Energy Squad o HESP Baseline: 0 o Low Income Home Energy Squad Baseline: 1 Resources Co-branded information materials targeting under-resourced residents and programs Volunteer time to assist with door-to-door outreach Partnership with local service providers to help with outreach Staff hours/volunteers to help coordinate outreach between partners Translation services for materials and outreach (if needed) Service providers and partners, such as Community Action Center of Northfield and and Northfield Housing and Redevelopment Authority Community partners to support outreach, such as Greenvale Park Community School, ISAIAH, Neighbors United, and Northfield Rotary Club.
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City of Northfield Climate Action Plan Appendix C Small Consumer Strategy E) Co-host free electric vehicle ride and drive events at existing community events, places of employment, and/or destinations Description Electric vehicles have the potential to drastically reduce emissions and air pollution by utilizing increasingly green electricity fueled by renewables. Electric vehicle ride and drives help educate the public about the benefits of owning an electric vehicle. Ride and drives give community members an opportunity to sit in and in some cases, test drive a vehicle. Implementation Team City of Northfield and Tasks Promote ride and drive events on City website and social media Share event information with local business associations and community partners to distribute to their network
Northfield Energy Task Force Identify existing events, places of employment, and destinations to host ride and drives Outreach to local event organizers and places of employment to assess interest in partnering to host ride and drive Outreach to local electric vehicle groups to assess interest in providing vehicles for event Coordinate event logistics with event coordinators Table at event to share utility program information, such as rate structures and incentives Promote ride and drive events using the host event or host destination’s network and marketing materials
Partners in Energy Create informational materials about EVs and charging Timeline Q3 2019–Q4 2020 Goal(s) Host 3 ride and drive events Resources Volunteers to conduct outreach to potential event co-hosts Existing community events to co-host ride and drive Informational materials about electric vehicles and charging rates to share during event Partnership with local electric vehicle groups to supply vehicles Partnership with Northfield Area Chamber of Commerce & Tourism and Northfield Downtown Development Corporation Community partners to host, such as Greater Northfield Sustainability Coalition, Northfield Rotary Club, Northfield School District, Carleton College, and St. Olaf College, and local car dealers that sell electric vehicles. Community events to host, such as Riverwalk Market Fair, Defeat of Jesse James Days, Crazy Days, Home & Garden Show Local businesses or destinations with parking lots to host, such as local car dealerships who sell electric vehicles.
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City of Northfield Climate Action Plan Appendix C Small Consumer Strategy F) Survey small businesses and nonprofit organizations about how they use and think about energy to develop a targeted outreach campaign Description Small businesses and nonprofit organizations are an important part of our action plan. Identifying how they use and think about energy will allow the City of Northfield and Energy Subcommittee to further identify and refine strategies for engaging businesses and nonprofits. The survey will include questions about energy efficiency and renewable energy generation. Implementation Team City of Northfield and Tasks Distribute survey using City communication channels Share survey with local business associations and community partners to distribute to their network Partner with Northfield Economic Development Authority for engaging businesses to complete survey Assist with creating small business strategies to further engage business community
Northfield Energy Task Force Identify business associations to help with promotion and outreach Assist with creating small business strategies to further engage business community
Partners in Energy Gather input on questions from implementation team Create survey Set timeline for survey responses Review and analyze survey results Assist with creating small business strategies to further engage business community Timeline Q1 2020–Q2 2020 Goal(s) Distribute one small business/nonprofit organization survey Resources Survey platform Survey questions Partnerships with local business associations to disseminate survey, such as Northfield Area Chamber of Commerce & Tourism, Northfield Downtown Development Corporation, and Northfield Rotary Club Community partners to disseminate survey, such as the Greater Northfield Sustainability Coalition, ISAIAH, Carleton College, and St. Olaf College
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City of Northfield Climate Action Plan Appendix C Small Consumer Strategy G) Engage small businesses and nonprofit organizations in energy efficiency action through door-to-door outreach with energy coaches Description Door-to-door outreach, sometimes call a “business blitz,” can be an effective way to engage small businesses and nonprofit organizations to spread the message of energy efficiency and renewable energy. As part of a blitz, volunteers will go door- to-door with a simple call to action, such as sign up for a free energy assessment. Energy coaches act as points of contact for businesses to answer questions and encourage action. Implementation Team City of Northfield and Tasks Support coordinating volunteers and energy coaches for door-to-door outreach Identify dates for door-to-door outreach Promote outreach on City communication channels Distribute information materials on City communication channels Identify date and host for a celebration event for organizations and volunteers who participated in blitz Send invitations and collect RSVPs for celebration event Order refreshments and food for celebration event Issue a final report celebrating the total number of businesses reached during the blitz, and the number of projects completed with savings
Northfield Energy Task Force Identify call to action for businesses to take Identify volunteers to serve as energy coaches Establish partnerships with local business associations and civic associations Share information materials, door-to-door outreach dates, and final report with local business associations to distribute to their network Support celebration event coordination, including identifying date, space, and inviting attendees
Partners in Energy Use business/organization survey (see Small Consumer Strategy F) results to create information materials with call to action information Support coordinating volunteers and energy coaches for door-to-door outreach Train volunteers and energy coaches Create informational materials for distribution Create final report celebrating final number of businesses Provide funding support for refreshments and food for celebration event
Energy Coaches Support door-to-door outreach to businesses and nonprofit organizations Conduct follow up to encourage action and follow through on recommendations
Clean Energy Resource Teams (CERTs) Coordinate volunteers and energy coaches for door-to-door outreach Support training energy coaches
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City of Northfield Climate Action Plan Appendix C Conduct door-to-door outreach to businesses and nonprofit organizations Timeline Q2 2020–Q3 2020 Goal(s) Conduct one door-to-door “blitz” campaign in downtown Northfield Sign up 30 businesses or nonprofit organizations to complete/move forward with the call to action Resources Volunteers to help with outreach Volunteers to act as energy coaches Training materials and talking points for energy coaches Information materials with call to action information, such as free assessment and audit information Local business organizations to support outreach, such as Northfield Area Chamber of Commerce & Tourism, Northfield Downtown Development Corporation, Northfield Enterprise Center, and Northfield Rotary Club Community partners to support outreach, such as the Greater Northfield Sustainability Coalition, Carleton College, and St. Olaf College Space for celebration event Invitation platform for celebration event Refreshments and food for celebration event
Small Consumer Strategy H) Host an “energy” booth for the 2020 Northfield Home & Garden Show, Earth Day Celebration, River Walk Market Fair and other city-wide events Description The Northfield Home & Garden Show is an excellent opportunity to reach small consumers about energy efficiency and renewable energy information. An “energy” booth will share information about how to integrate energy efficiency into a home renovation and programs available to help keep costs low. Implementation Team City of Northfield and Tasks Engage Northfield Area Chamber of Commerce about adding booth to 2020 event Promote energy booth on City communication channels
Northfield Energy Task Force Identify and mobilize volunteers to table Leverage existing marketing for event by Northfield Area Chamber of Commerce
Partners in Energy Create tabling materials, including flyers about energy efficient renovations Timeline Q4 2019–Q2 2020 Goal(s) Energy booth at 2020 Northfield Home & Garden Show Resources Volunteers for tabling Information materials Tabling kit and materials
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City of Northfield Climate Action Plan Appendix C Part 2: Large consumers strategies Large Consumer Strategy A) Host best practice energy workshops and tours with case studies Description Energy workshops and tours are an effective way to share energy efficiency and renewable energy success stories with other large consumers. Workshops are a great way to share best practices and ROI information that resonates with businesses. Tours can show attendees real life application of energy efficiency and renewable energy measures. Implementation Team City of Northfield and Tasks Coordinate initial tour and or workshop structure Assist with creating distribution list with contact information for large consumers and other attendees to invite Promote workshops/tours on City communication channels Share tour dates and information with local partners to share with their network Share press release to promote workshops/tours
Northfield Energy Task Force Identify potential workshop/tour hosts Assist with creating distribution list with contact information for large consumers and other attendees to invite Send invitations for tour(s) Follow up with attendees to encourage action and to host their own workshop or tour
Partners in Energy Draft case study/flyer about improvements Write press release to promote workshops/tours
Xcel Energy Attend tours to share information about Xcel Energy rebates and programs
Energy Subcommittee Large Consumer Representatives Volunteer to host tour Timeline Q4 2019–Q4 2020 Goal(s) Host 5 tours, per year Resources Structure for tours Invitation and RSVP platform Workshop/tour hosts Presenters Presentation materials for workshop/tour hosts Refreshments and food for event Local partners to support outreach, such as Greater Northfield Sustainability Coalition, Northfield Area Chamber of Commerce & Tourism, Northfield Downtown Development Corporation, Northfield Enterprise Center, Economic Development Authority, and Northfield Rotary Club Local institutions to act as initial hosts, such as Carleton College, St. Olaf
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City of Northfield Climate Action Plan Appendix C College, Northfield School District, and Northfield Hospital
Large Consumer Strategy B) Facilitate a large consumer energy coalition to share best practices on action plans and carbon reduction goals Description Each large consumer must be entrusted to develop their own action plan tailored to their specific organizational mission and operations. The purpose of this strategy is to encourage large users to compare existing action plans and goals, create a plan and set goals (for those who haven’t already done so), and share resources, approaches and best practices with respect to large consumer energy conservation and carbon reduction strategies. Implementation Team City of Northfield and Tasks Identify group facilitator/convener Create platform or process for sharing best practices with coalition
Northfield Energy Task Force Invite large users to join coalition Engage existing network of institutions and large consumers to promote network and best practices
Energy Subcommittee Large Consumer Representatives Volunteer to join coalition Timeline Q3 2019–Q4 2020 Goal(s) Create energy coalition One action plan created by member of energy coalition Resources Large consumers and institutions willing to share best practices for creating action plan and carbon reduction goals, such as Carleton College, St. Olaf College, and Northfield Hospital Network of large consumers to engage and work together Volunteer(s) to coordinate and conduct initial outreach to join coalition
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City of Northfield Climate Action Plan Appendix C Large Consumer Strategy C) Recognize large consumers’ renewable energy investments and energy efficiency upgrades through different communication channels Description Promoting local efficiency and renewable energy investments can help demonstrate action and leadership by Northfield’s large consumers. Actions of large consumers can inspire others to take action. Implementation Team City of Northfield and Tasks Promote success stories on City communication channels Feature articles in City’s Economic Update Newsletter Identify location to archive success stories in a single location
Northfield Energy Task Force Identify large consumers to feature Engage local business organizations to share information with their network Assist with identifying additional platforms where success stories will be featured
Partners in Energy Interview or collect information about investments Create case studies and testimonials to be distributed in different formats Timeline Q4 2019–Q4 2020 Goal(s) Feature one large consumer each quarter Resources Large consumer contact information Interview questions to collect success story information Different communication channels to feature success stories Local business organizations to disseminate information, such as Northfield Area Chamber of Commerce &Tourism, Northfield Downtown Development Corporation, Northfield Enterprise Center, and Northfield Rotary Club
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City of Northfield Climate Action Plan Appendix C Large Consumer Strategy D) Targeted outreach to large consumers to complete energy assessments and audits Description Energy assessments and audits are a great way for a business to learn how they use energy and to identify areas of opportunity for efficiency and conservation. Ranging from free assessments to full service audits, there are different options available for large consumers to identify energy saving opportunities. Implementation Team City of Northfield and Tasks Include audit and assessment information on City website Share information materials with local business organizations to share with their network Support targeted outreach using business organization networks
Northfield Energy Task Force Identify communication channels for large consumers Support targeted outreach using business organization networks Track number of 1-1 contacts and resulting actions
Partners in Energy Identify all assessment and audit options Create information materials about energy audits and assessment options Write article about free and low-cost assessments in local newspaper Connect with Xcel Energy account managers to share information with customers Timeline Q3 2019–Q4 2020 Goal(s) 10 participants total in Xcel Energy energy assessment and audit programs: Process Efficiency, Recommissioning, and Turn Key Services o Baseline: 0 Resources Information materials on assessment and audit options City webpage(s) to host information materials Local business organizations to disseminate information, such as Northfield Area Chamber of Commerce &Tourism, Northfield Downtown Development Corporation, Northfield Enterprise Center, and Northfield Rotary Club
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City of Northfield Climate Action Plan Appendix C Large Consumer Strategy E) Promote fleet electrification by sharing information with large consumers and organizations with fleet vehicles to encourage electrification Description Electric vehicles have the potential to drastically reduce emissions and air pollution by utilizing increasingly green electricity fueled by renewables. Fleet electrification is an opportunity for organizations to reduce their carbon impact, and find cost savings in maintenance and fuel. Implementation Team City of Northfield and Tasks Assist with identifying relevant information and best practices to include in informational materials Leverage City communication channels to share information materials
Northfield Energy Task Force Identify local businesses and organizations with fleet vehicles Develop a list of available financing options, grants, incentives and other resources Outreach to fleet vehicle owners to share information materials
Partners in Energy Identify relevant fleet electrification information Identify fleet electrification case studies and best practices Create fleet electrification information materials Timeline Q3 2020–Q4 2020 Goal(s) Create information materials and distribute to community Resources Fleet electrification information Examples/case studies for fleet electrification Volunteers to conduct outreach and share information with local fleet owners
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City of Northfield Climate Action Plan Appendix C Large Consumer Strategy F) Encourage transparency in annual energy and carbon footprint reporting to help track progress by Northfield's large consumers Description Transparency in large consumers’ energy use and carbon footprint will demonstrate to the community the benefits of energy efficiency and renewable energy, as well as give a clear picture of their contribution towards achieving our community-wide goal. Implementation Team City of Northfield and Tasks Support Northfield Energy Task Force outreach Feature annual article in City’s Economic Update Newsletter listing large consumers who participate
Northfield Energy Task Force Identify the desired format and frequency for reporting Identify how/where the data will be displayed and used Identify large consumers for outreach and specific point person Identify volunteer to conduct outreach Conduct outreach
Partners in Energy Create talking points for outreach Identify how this data will be incorporated into annual reporting of total community energy data received from Xcel Energy
Energy Subcommittee Large Consumer Representatives Volunteer to participation in annual reporting Timeline Q1 2020–Q4 2020 Goal(s) Points of contact made with 10 large consumers to encourage transparency Resources List of large consumers to contact Volunteers to conduct outreach Talking points for volunteers Platform or resource to share reporting for all participants in a single place
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City of Northfield Climate Action Plan Appendix C Appendix 4: 2008 Mayor’s Energy Task Force Report Summary With Hope: A Resilient Community An Action Plan for Northfield Area Energy Sustainability
Introduction
Northfield, along with the rest of the world, faces twin energy challenges: fossil energy supply with price uncertainty and global climate change, driven largely by the release of carbon dioxide from fossil fuel combustion. The recent surges in oil, gasoline, and diesel prices; accompanying economy-wide inflation concerns; and the growing scientific consensus on climate change highlight the urgency of these problems. The Northfield Energy Task Force (NETF) was created by resolution of the Northfield City Council in May 2007 to respond to these challenges. Four charges and summary of recommendations
1. To assess opportunities to develop local energy efficiency and clean energy projects that will a) protect the community from future energy price and supply instability, b) enhance local economic development, and c) provide local, regional and global environmental benefits a. Six viable opportunities for city government listed in the report 2. To assess the efficacy of creation of a municipal electric utility or special energy district in achieving parts a, b, and c of Charge 1. a. Recommend not to pursue a municipal utility at this time because costs are so great b. Ensure any new industrial park be powered by renewable energy, developed using best environmental practices and attract green businesses. c. Work toward establishing a special energy district for high efficiency combined heat and power (CHP) and cooling to service existing industrial and institutional users 3. To recommend citywide target greenhouse gas emissions reductions to fulfill Milestone 2 of the city’s commitment to the Cities for Climate Protection Campaign (CCPC) a. “Carbon-free by ‘33” (100% reduction) with milestones of 15% reduction by 2013 and 50% reduction by 2028 b. Begin annual measurement /inventory and update annually 4. To develop an action plan to meet the CCPC targets identified in Charge 3 and report to City Council by the end of May 2008. a. Use local government policy tools to facilitate achievement of CCPC targets b. Recommend a Climate Action Plan of ten items City Action Steps
1. Lead clean energy projects and model energy conservation/efficiency efforts within the community to create social norms of energy conservation/efficiency for all. 2. Direct City staff to consider climate, energy, environmental, economic, and social impact of all decisions using life cycle analysis and monetary impact analysis. Life cycle analysis should include social cohesion and dislocation, community resiliency and vulnerability, physical, economic, environmental, security, energy, and climate assessment. In addition monetary
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City of Northfield Climate Action Plan Appendix C impact analysis would include financial cost/benefit analysis and consideration of available funding resources (see Appendix 5) 3. Develop local policies and initiatives that help create demand for green collar occupations through public sector investments and incentives and requirements that drive private sector investments. 4. Create a permanent Energy Commission reporting directly to the City Council. 5. Set up a 1-Stop-Shop for energy and staff it with a professionally qualified Energy Coordinator. 6. Create/expand city policies, ordinances, plans and guidelines (see full report for suggestions)
Community Action Steps
1. Citizen group reports and next steps (see list of reports below) 2. Alliance organizations (CERTS, Green workforce education, America in Bloom CRWP, etc.) 3. Suggestions for residential energy users (green, greener, greenest) 4. Suggestions for commercial / industrial / institutional energy users (green, greener, greenest) 5. All-community challenge: greening up your organization Future Opportunities
Systems integration – coordinate all elements of energy supply, demand and production in a holistic manner that maximizes Northfield’s resiliency. (e.g. the Natural Step Program). Transportation – Significant reduction in transportation fuel use will likely require the slow creation of a new fleet of highly efficient vehicles. Suggestions include develop local transportation infrastructure, use van and car pools, use existing and explore additional transit bus services, continue to explore creation of the Dan Patch Line. Hydro-electric power – Based on advice from experts, the group determined [hydro power] was not feasible at this time due to the condition of the dam, the negative environmental impact and the economic cost. However, suggest the city continue to monitor the availability of run-of- the-river or other appropriate technologies. Wastewater management – The Task Force looked at anaerobic digestion as a means to generate power but the cost to convert the current plant to add digestion while maintaining quality water treatment makes the conversion unprofitable. Solid waste management – The City of Northfield may decide to manage the collected city waste by directing the waste to a “waste to energy” plant that generates electricity, or may decide to develop a combined heat and power plant or gasification plant as described in the Appendices.
Ideas on how to pay for climate work (see report for full list)
City department budgets Operating savings from energy efficiency 2% bond issue Third party agreement (private / public partnership) Corp of Engineers funding Financing initiatives Federal tax credits
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City of Northfield Climate Action Plan Appendix C Carbon tax Employee bonus programs Give departments a greenhouse gas budget to live within Reduce commuting Parking fees Local government roadmap EPA Streamline permitting for those who adhere to standards Loans Clean renewable energy bonds
Citizen reports – see report appendices for details
Biomass gasification and combined heat and power – using biomass feedstocks to produce gas, capturing the heat off an electric generator and/or producing electricity as a byproduct of making heat. Cluster heat pump system – for new development that shares a common “green space” that can be used for horizontal or vertical ground source heating and cooling loop. Minnesota energy challenge – energy conservation measures pledged by households, businesses, schools, and religious organizations. Small and large wind turbines – currently difficult to develop a single or small number of large turbines but Northfield area could support wind farming (20 or more large turbines). Small wind production should also be promoted and encouraged as housing codes, regulations, etc. are developed in the city. But fragmentation of energy, rather than constructive focusing, is a direct concern. Some don’t see wind as the most viable means for Northfielders reducing their carbon footprint, could focus instead on solutions like conservation, solar thermal, etc.
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City of Northfield Climate Action Plan Appendix C Appendix 5: Comprehensive Plan Implementation Matrix Excerpts The following are examples of Comprehensive Plan strategies that intersect with the goals of the Energy Subcommittee and could be enhanced or enforced through implementation of the Northfield Energy Plan recommendations. Community Identity CI 1.1 Preserve the scenic quality of the rural landscape by defining the edge of the community and maintain the rural character of roadways on the edges of the community.
C 1.4 Ensure that all development, redevelopment and expansion be compatible with the desirable features of the natural and man-made environment.
CI 3.2 Provide economic incentives and design flexibility to aid in the restoration and long-term economic vitality of historically significant buildings in the Downtown.
CI 4 Encourage a traditional development pattern – could this also include requirements to rethink utility structures, integrate renewables, etc.?
CI 7.1 Coordinate with the school district on population growth and residential developments in order to reserve sites for future school facilities as population growth may require – can these facilities soon be built as net zero energy buildings? Land Use LU 1.6 Annually monitor the land use of residential as compared to commercial and industrial land use as a means to accomplish the overall planning objectives of the city.
LU 2.4 Encourage pedestrian paths and trail connections from commercial uses to adjoining residential developments and places of employment.
LU 2.5 Encourage more compact housing as a component of infill, redevelopment or land intensification projects. LU 3.1 Create incentives to encourage infill, redevelopment, and land intensification. LU 3.2 Work collaboratively to identify structures and sites for redevelopment, intensification or reuse.
LU 3.3 The EDA with assistance of City staff will prepare a marketing program for targeted structures and/or sites for infill, redevelopment, and land intensification.
LU 3.4 Establish priorities for capital improvements that are directed toward infill sites and mature neighborhoods.
LU 3.5 Facilitate redevelopment of uses that do not fit the development pattern of downtown but which with better design could increase density and provide more commercial, office or housing opportunities.
LU 6.2 Prepare educational material on alternative development choices for protecting natural areas – for the public and development community. Can these be created for energy efficiency outreach also?
LU 6.4 Identify and prioritize land for open space preservation. LU 6.5 Create a program to acquire open space and environmentally significant lands.
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City of Northfield Climate Action Plan Appendix C LU 7.4 Encourage the use of conservation easements as a means to preserve productive agricultural land, greenways and environmentally significant areas.
LU 7.5 Work with other units of government, including Rice and Dakota Counties, to preserve agricultural land uses.
LU 8 Provide locations that facilitate economic development opportunities –are there ways to integrate new approaches to utilities, i.e. district energy and integration of renewables? LU Improve the development review process – Can it incorporate energy efficiency requirements? Environmental Resources ER 1.1 Promote education about energy and resource conservation in the community.
ER 1.2 Incentives should be developed to promote energy efficiency in the design, construction and operation of residential, commercial and industrial buildings.
ER 4.1 Encourage the use of energy conservation technologies and techniques and promote the exploration and innovation of new methods to conserve energy. ER 4.2 Strive to build or renovate city-owned buildings to meet LEED standards. ER 4.3 Building design standards will allow for and accommodate changing solar technologies.
ER 4.4 Evaluate the recommendations of the Energy Task Force and promote implementation of the strategies as appropriate.
ER 10 The City will remain responsive to issues of climate change and will act to reduce Northfield’s contribution to climate change.
ER 10.3 Promote the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions at residential, industrial and commercial scales. ER 10.4 Encourage conservation standards at residential, industrial and commercial scales. Sewer and Water Resources SW 1.4 Address legal limitations, fairness, property benefits and responsible use of public funds when financing public utility extension that force the City’s growth and redevelopment objectives. Priority will be given to infill and redevelopment of the existing urbanized area to maximize efficiency of the existing water and sewer infrastructure systems and energy utilities?
SW 3 Heighten community awareness of sustainability issues through education and training.
CR 1.1 The City’s Capital Improvement Plan should include funding for future building renovations and / or new construction. Can we include emphasis on energy efficiency requirements, LEED, net zero energy, integration of renewables in city funded renovations or construction?
CF 2.3 Construction or renovation of publicly-owned buildings should be environmentally responsible and energy efficient.
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City of Northfield Climate Action Plan Appendix C Economic Development ED 1.2 Assure availability of key informational resources to support decision-making of existing businesses.
ED 1.3 Offer leveraging financial tools to strengthen businesses and promote business expansions. Can public funding come with energy efficiency requirements?
ED 1.4 Adopt a regulating policy that accommodates and provides incentives for infill and redevelopment opportunities. What are these incentives and can they also come with energy efficiency requirements?
ED 2.2 Land resources that are adjacent to the city limits of Northfield and are relatively easy to serve with the extension of infrastructure should be pursued for future commercial and industrial development.
ED 2.3 The City will support strategies of annexation that are designed to provide additional land resources for commercial and industrial development, and that are in compliance with the overall objectives of the Comprehensive Plan. Can new development be net zero?
ED 2.4 The areas that have been identified west of the Northfield Hospital, west of the existing industrial area and south of Hwy 19 and north of the city limits in Waterford Township along the Thye Parkway corridor should be viewed as priority areas for additional evaluation and possible annexation into the city. When these areas are considered for annexation the City will review the requests with a Master Plan for the area. Can this plan include renewable energy, net zero, district energy development?
ED 3.4 Encourage further redevelopment / intensification in downtown as a means to maintain the vitality of this area. Downtown redevelopment / intensification should focus on retail uses, professional services, arts activities including opportunities for live-work development, businesses that support other businesses, and downtown housing.
ED 4.2 Seek opportunities for the Northfield Hospital to be a stimulus for economic development.
ED 4.4 Seek ways to better integrate the economically-challenged into the economic life of Northfield, such as providing for affordable housing and targeting small business incentive programs to this segment of the economy.
ED 4.6 Support programming efforts to further tourism in Northfield, e.g. historic and festival programs, arts and culture programs and tours. How about eco/energy tourism? Housing HS 1.2 Revise zoning and subdivision ordinances to ensure opportunities for development of alternative housing types and styles, including mixed-use neighborhoods, accessory or mother-in-law apartments, modular homes, manufactured home parks and other innovative approaches to housing.
HS 1.5 As determined necessary, conduct a city-wide housing analysis to identify current housing types, densities, values, vacancy rates and locations for use as a guide to future housing development and as a measure of affordable housing. HS 1.6 Establish standards for compact residential development and intensified land uses.
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City of Northfield Climate Action Plan Appendix C HS 1.7 The preference for new residential development should be for infill, then redevelopment, and then greenfields within the city limits, and then within the Priority Growth Area.
HS 1.8 The needed balance between housing and commercial / industry and the current supply of housing will be important factors in consideration of annexation requests for additional housing. Can growth of carbon emissions also be a consideration?
HS 2 Preserve the character and style of existing neighborhoods that have created Northfield’s sense of place. There are many items in here that present opportunities for integrating energy conservation and net zero energy building into our standards.
HS 3 The City should assist in providing affordable housing. Especially if this housing is subsidized by City funds, we should be able to integrate energy efficiency or net zero standards into the design and development of these properties.
HS 4 The City will encourage homes to be well-maintained, environmentally friendly and energy efficient. All items in this category could be amplified with more stringent energy efficiency, renewable energy or net zero building requirements.
HS 4.1 Establish standards for and encourage the use of “green” building techniques to provide housing that is energy-efficient and environmentally friendly. HS 4.2 Investigate “green” practices that would reduce the cost of housing.
HS 4.3 Review the City’s non-conforming structures ordinance for mechanisms to allow homeowners to intensify, rehabilitate and maintain nonconforming structures.
HS 4.4 Enforce rental ordinances that provide for minimums in housing maintenance.
HS 4.6 Revise City zoning and other applicable ordinances to ensure implementation of these Objectives and Strategies.
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City of Northfield Climate Action Plan Appendix C Appendix 6: Sample Energy Task Force Solicitation
Are you passionate about energy conservation and renewable energy? Do you want to help Northfield residents and businesses save money on their energy bills? Join Northfield’s Energy Task Force.
Northfield’s Energy Task Force will be responsible for leading and supporting implementation activities for Northfield’s Energy Subcommittee Report, developed through Xcel Energy’s Partners in Energy offering. Partners in Energy will provide Northfield with 18 months of project management support, plus marketing and communications resources, program expertise, and data to measure progress.
Energy Task Force Activities
Level 1 Time commitment: As needed, some nights or weekends
Types of activities:
Table at events to distribute information about energy efficiency and renewable energy Conduct outreach to event organizers to confirm tabling opportunity Share information materials with personal network
Level 2 Time commitment: Occasional, less than 5 hours a month
Types of activities:
Use talking points and information materials to conduct outreach to Northfield residents, small businesses, and large consumers Use talking points and information materials to engage local nonprofits, worship facilities, and other partners to support Energy Action Jump Start
Level 3 Time Commitment: Frequent, 5-10 hours a month
Types of activities:
Keep Energy Task Force informed about Energy Action Jump Start activities Participate in monthly check-in calls or emails with City of Northfield and Partners in Energy staff Coordinate level 1 and 2 Energy Task Force volunteers Support level 1 and 2 activities
Interested? Contact ______
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City of Northfield Climate Action Plan Appendix C Appendix 7: Xcel Energy Partners in Energy Plan Development Process Xcel Energy is the main electric and natural gas utility serving the City of Northfield. In the summer of 2014, Xcel Energy launched Partners in Energy to support communities like Northfield to develop and implement energy action plans that supplement existing sustainability plans, strategies, and tools. The content of this report is derived from a series of planning workshops held in the community with a planning team committed to representing local energy priorities and implementing plan strategies.
Partners in Energy will work with the City of Northfield to coordinate support for implementing the plan and will develop a Memorandum of Understanding that outlines specific support Xcel Energy will provide to help Northfield deploy its strategies and achieve its goals over an 18-month period.
Communication Project Assistance and Management Resources
Celebration and Tracking and Recognition of Measurement Successes
Figure 9. Partners in Energy Process for Figure 10. Resources from Xcel Energy for Success Implementation
Plan Development Process The CAPAB Energy Subcommittee chair actively recruited a diverse group of community representatives, including representatives from small businesses, industrial businesses, the colleges, community organizations, and greater community to create the Energy Subcommittee Report. Please see Appendix 1 for a complete list of participants.
The Energy Subcomittee met over the course of six months, reviewing community energy use data, identifying energy priorities, and developing strategies to put Northfield on the path towards a carbon free future. A summary of the workshop process can be found in Table 4.
TABLE 4: PARTNERS IN ENERGY PLANNING WORKSHOP SUMMARY
Planning Workshop Summary Workshop 1 Met members of Northfield’s Energy Subcommittee November 5, 2018 Learned about the Partners in Energy offering Shared thoughts on why an energy action plan is important to Northfield
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City of Northfield Climate Action Plan Appendix C Examined data on Northfield’s energy profile and community background Envisioned Northfield’s energy future Workshop 2 Drafted Northfield’s energy vision and greenhouse gas reduction goal December 6, 2018 Reviewed Northfield’s past work towards energy efficiency and reducing emissions Learned about Xcel Energy’s clean energy future Identify community assets Brainstormed near- and long-term strategies Workshop 3 Reviewed results from community climate action survey January 14, 2019 Learned about Xcel Energy programs and rebates Identified communication channels in Northfield Identified barriers and benefits to energy action Evaluated feasibility and impact of near-term strategies Workshop 4 Refined Northfield’s energy vision and community-wide goal February 27, 2019 Reviewed initial structure of Energy Subcommittee report Completed a gallery walk to give input on strategic priorities Set near-term goals for 18-month Energy Action Jump Start Workshop 5 Reviewed Northfield’s Energy Subcommittee report outline and structure April 3, 2019 Reviewed and discuss strategic priority survey results Identified implementation leads and support for 18-month Energy Action Jump Start Completed a SWOT analysis for Northfield’s energy subcommittee report Celebrated all the work the subcommittee has accomplished
PHOTO 1: NORTHFIELD'S ENERGY SUBCOMMITTEE AT WORKSHOP 5
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City of Northfield Climate Action Plan Appendix C Appendix 8: Glossary of Terms 15 x 15 Privacy Rule: Xcel Energy’s privacy rule, which require all data summary statistics to include at least 15 entities, with no single entity responsible for more than 15% of the total. Following these rules, if an entity is responsible for more than 15% of the total for that data set, it is removed from the summary.
Conservation Improvement Programs (CIP): Portfolio of approved utility energy efficiency and demand management programs. Minnesota electric utilities have a goal of saving 1.5% of their total energy sales each year via customer conservation efforts. Minnesota natural gas utilities have a goal of saving 0.5% of their total energy sales each year via customer conservation efforts.
Energy Burden: Percentage of gross household income spent on energy costs.
Greenhouse Gases (GHG): Gases in the atmosphere that absorb and emit radiation and significantly contribute to climate change. The primary greenhouse gases in the earth's atmosphere are water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and ozone.
Grid Decarbonization: The current planned reduction in the carbon intensity of electricity provided by electric utilities through the addition of low or no carbon energy sources to the electricity grid.
Kilowatt-hour (kWh): A unit of electricity consumption.
Million British Thermal Units (MMBtu): A unit of energy consumption that allows both electricity and natural gas consumption to be combined.
Metric Tons of Carbon Dioxide Equivalent (MTCO2e): A standard unit of measure for greenhouse gas emissions. The unit "CO2e" represents an amount of a greenhouse gas whose atmospheric impact has been standardized to that of one unit mass of carbon dioxide (CO2), based on the global warming potential (GWP) of a particular gas.
Net Zero Energy Building: A structure that on an annual basis produces as much energy on site as it consumes
Premise: A unique identifier for the location of electricity or natural gas service. In most cases it is a facility location. There can be multiple premises per building, and multiple premises per individual debtor.
Renewable Energy Certificate (REC): For every megawatt-hour of clean, renewable electricity generation, a renewable energy certificate (REC) is created. A REC embodies all of the environmental attributes of the generation and can be tracked and traded separately from the underlying electricity. Also known as a Renewable Energy Credit.
Resilience: The ability to prepare for and adapt to changing conditions and withstand and recover rapidly from disruptions. Resilience includes the ability to withstand and recover from deliberate attacks, accidents, or naturally-occurring threats or incidents.
Therm (thm): A unit of natural gas consumption.
Trade Ally: Trade Allies, or Business Trade Partners, are vendors and contractors who work with business and residential customers servicing, installing, and providing consulting services regarding the
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City of Northfield Climate Action Plan Appendix C equipment associated with utility rebate programs. Their support for utility programs can range from providing equipment or assisting with rebate paperwork, to receiving rebates for equipment sold.
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City of Northfield Climate Action Plan Appendix C City of Northfield Climate Action Plan Advisory Board Climate Action Plan Survey Report 2018
City of Northfield Climate Action Plan Appendix D City of Northfield | Climate Action Plan Advisory Board Climate Action Plan Survey
Background ...... 3 Methodology ...... 3 Applied Research ...... 3 Survey Design and Data Collection ...... 3 Sample Design ...... 3 Data Processing and Analysis...... 4
Summary of Main Findings...... 4 Awareness and Concern for Climate Change...... 4 Support for Possible Future Action...... 5 Personal Action and Information Wanted...... 5 Education and Outreach...... 5 Comments from the Respondents ...... 5
Detailed Results ...... 6 Awareness and Concern for Climate Change (Q1-3)...... 6 Personal Action and Barriers to Addressing Climate Change (Q4-5)...... 8 Question 4 Respondent Comments ...... 8 Degree of Support for Possible Future Actions (Q6)...... 10 Learning more about Climate Change (Q7-9)...... 12 Question 7 Respondent Comments...... 13 Question 9 Respondent Comments ...... 15 Demographics (Q10-12)...... 16 Final Respondent Comments (Q13)...... 18
Deeper analysis A Deeper Look at Support for the 19 Possible Future Actions...... 21 Revised Degree of Support for Possible Future Action...... 22 Learning more about Climate Change...... 23
Conclusions and Recommendations...... 26
Appendix A: Putting It All Together...... 28
References...... 32
2 City of Northfield Climate Action Plan Appendix D City of Northfield | Climate Action Plan Advisory Board Climate Action Plan Survey
Background
In 2018, the City of Northfield’s City Council adopted the 2018-2020 Strategic Plan. This plan outlines six Strategic Priorities. One of these, Strategic Priority six, is to ensure a community that is resilient and sustainable to climate change impacts. To achieve this end, a Climate Action Plan Advisory Board (CAPAB) was established and tasked to write a climate action plan (CAP) for the City of Northfield. A CAP contains specific strategies the community will undertake to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) and adapt to the effects of climate change.
Two major caveats of successful planning for climate change are that climate change adaptation and mitigation projects will not succeed if (1) communities in which they are to be implemented are not un- derstood (Barnes et al. 2013), and (2) broad community involvement in developing and implementing mitigation and adaptation projects is not secured (Boswell et al. 2012). With that in mind, to begin to understand the community’s views, the community was surveyed.
The primary aims for conducting the survey were (1) to inform the community that a new city board, the Climate Action Plan Advisory Board (CAPAB), had been established, (2) that the newly formed CAPAB is writing a CAP, and (3) that the CAPAB is seeking citizen input in order to ensure that the strategies in the CAP to reduce greenhouse gases (GHGs) and adapt to climate change will have community support.
This report contains the findings from the survey of the Northfield area citizens. The results from this study will be used to inform the CAPAB about current citizen awareness and views on selected topics, especially how much support there would be for 19 possible future actions. The results will also be used to determine education and outreach efforts. Outreach is distinguished from education in that it is the how, where, and to whom the education is disseminated.
Methodology Applied Research – Applied research is a type of research that is used to answer a specific question that has direct applications to solve a problem. It is information that can be put to use immediately and has practical real time application.
Survey Design and Data Collection – Developing, deploying, analyzing, and reporting this survey was a collaborative project. A citizen volunteer and City of Northfield student intern under the direction of the CAPAB and city staff liaison developed the survey. The City of Northfield staff assisted with print- ing paper surveys and building the online survey in Survey Monkey, a software that enables survey design, data collection, and analysis. Data was collected online and from paper surveys during October and November 2018. Data from the paper surveys were entered into the online Survey Monkey account and all data are stored in City of Northfield’s Survey Monkey account.
Sample Design – It was agreed to deploy the survey into the community using the non-randomized convenience sampling method. With this technique, individuals are surveyed because of their conve- nient accessibility and proximity to the survey administrators. A convenience sample means the poten- tial is greater for certain individuals to be left out during the selection process or other individuals to be over represented, and indeed that is exactly what occurred. Sincere attempts were made to give every- 3 City of Northfield Climate Action Plan Appendix D City of Northfield | Climate Action Plan Advisory Board Climate Action Plan Survey
one in the community an opportunity to take the survey, yet the data show that most of the individuals who took the survey are perhaps more motivated than not to engage with the mitigation and adaptation efforts needed to tackle climate change. The results are more representative of individuals with higher education.
Students and citizens volunteered to be survey administrators. Volunteers assisted with survey admin- istration at 14 public events. These pre-arranged events garnered citizen input at public events such as the farmer’s market, grocery stores, and local civic clubs. Citizens had the opportunity to take the 13 question multiple choice 5-7 minute survey on an iPad, on paper, or were given a 4 X 6 postcard with instructions how to access the survey online at home. Information about how to access the online survey was also posted on the City of Northfield’s website, included with the City’s monthly water bill, and on posters around the city. The City staff also promoted the survey by tabling at two events and was responsible for distributing and collecting paper copies of the survey from several locations around the city.
A strength of the survey is the number of respondents: 1053 responses were achieved. Of those, 1046 were in the English and 7 were in Spanish. Some of the participants who began the survey did not complete all of the questions. Approximately 878 finished the survey (this is an approximate number because all of those respondents may not have answered every single question).
Data Processing and Analysis – Two researchers used Excel software to analyze the survey data to make sure the data was being understood in the same way. Where issues related to the soundness of the data arose, these were discussed and a consensus was reached. For example, not all of the 1053 respondents answered all of the questions. There are several reasons a respondent may not have an- swered a question, but it was determined to use all of the answers each respondent gave to complete the analysis. The number of respondents answering each question is always given with the results. When there are other issues with the data it is described in the appropriate section of this report.
A descriptive analysis was performed using graphs and tables. For simplicity of describing these results in the written commentary, some 5-point scales have been collapsed into 3-point scales to represent the general opinion. Color-coding of the results correspond to the CAPAB subgroups Energy, Land, Waste, Food, Water, and Transportation. For multiple-choice questions, percentage results have been rounded to the nearest whole percent; therefore some graphs may total slightly more or less than 100%. Some key results have been broken down into various demographic groups to provide more specific understanding about the particular group.
Summary of Main Findings
Awareness and Concern for Climate Change – Survey respondents are aware of climate change. Eighty-two percent (82%) say they are at least moderately well informed about climate change, and eighty-one percent (81%) think about climate change at least weekly. While respondents are more con- cerned than not about all impacts of climate change, they are most concerned about the temperature and seasonal climate changes (81%) that will impact agriculture and food production (85%), create a loss of habitat and species (83%), decrease lake and river quality (84%), and decrease air quality (80%).
4 City of Northfield Climate Action Plan Appendix D City of Northfield | Climate Action Plan Advisory Board Climate Action Plan Survey
Support for Possible Future Action – Nineteen possible future actions to decrease GHGs and begin to adapt to climate change were posed to the respondents. While there was greater than 80% support for all of the possible future actions, 10 of the 19 possible future actions will likely have better initial sup- port and easier implementation than the other 9. This is because these respondents are already taking personal action in those areas, want more information about those topics, or are highly concerned about the effects of the impacts associated with climate change.
The top possible future actions are:
• Secure renewable energy and increase energy efficiency standards • Decrease water pollution and update storm water system • Plant more trees and have more green space around water • Make local food more available and have more food recovery programs • Institute waste diversion programs such as composting and improve waste disposal practices.
Personal Action and Information Wanted – Support for the top 10 future actions is mirrored in the personal actions the respondents are making to reduce waste (91%), reduce consumption of electricity and natural gas (73%), and buy local goods and products (65%). Support for the top 10 future actions is further strengthened by the kind of information related to reducing the impacts of climate change re- spondents are seeking: renewable energy (64%) and energy efficiency in residential buildings (49%), water conservation (52%), composting (47%) and waste reduction (46%), and carbon sequestration (46%).
Education and Outreach – The topics that respondents are interested in provide initial direction for education (the what) and outreach (the how, where, and to whom education gets disseminated) efforts. Respondents clarified in what format they preferred to learn and how they would like to receive infor- mation. To learn about climate change, most respondents want a personal carbon footprint tool (60%), community workshops and events (50%), and informational sheets (39%). To receive information about planning for climate change, respondents want to receive information from the City of Northfield’s web- site (64%), community workshops and events (54%), the Northfield News (43%), and depending upon age, either social media (51%) or e-subscriptions (41%).
Comments from the Respondents – Four of the 13 survey questions provided an option for the re- spondents to make comments. There were 398 comments: 84 for taking personal action, 39 for infor- mation wanted, 76 for how to become informed about planning for climate change, and 199 open-ended comments. The qualitative information gleaned from these additional comments supports the survey’s quantitative answers. Most comments align directly with the concepts of energy, land, waste, food, water, and transportation embedded in the survey questions to reiterate the concepts or else to put forward entirely new ideas. Many supported the idea that mitigation and adaption strategies will require personal action but also community education and “political will”. Interestingly, a small portion (6%) of the respondents’ comments do not support the City of Northfield’s efforts, do not think climate change exists or is man made, or don’t think that individual action is a solution to climate change.
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Detailed Results Awareness and Concern
Question 1: How often do you think about climate change? Choose one.
100% 90% 80% 70% 60% Ninety-one percent (91%) of the 50% respondents think about climate 50% 40% change at least once a month. 30% Eighty-two percent (82%) of the 32% 20% respondents think about it at least once a week. 10% 6% 3% 9% 0% Every day Once a week Once a month A couple Nev er times a year n = 1041
Question 2: How well informed are you about the effects of a changing climate? Choose one.
100% 90% 80% 70% 60% Over 80% of the respondents are 50% 58% moderately to extremely well in- 40% formed about climate change. 30%
20% 24% 10% 16% 3% 0.20% 0% Extremely Moderately Somewhat I don’t know Not at all informed informed informed much about it n = 1032
6 City of Northfield Climate Action Plan Appendix D City of Northfield | Climate Action Plan Advisory Board Climate Action Plan Survey
Question 3: Consequences of Minnesota’s climate changes. Please rank each consequence with your level of concern.
14% Changing winter recreation options 39% 47%
9% Longer allergy season 37% 54%
5% Increased flooding 22% 73% Respondents are moderately to 4% extremely concerned about the Insect borne diseases 20% 75% temperature and seasonal chang- es (81%) that impact agriculture 5% and food production (85%), cre- Precipitation extremes 20% ate a loss of habitat and species 76% (83%),Not at all decreaseconcerned lake and river Somewhat/Slightly 4% quality (84%), and decrease air Decreased air quality 16% qualityExtremely/Moderately (80%). 14% 80% Changing winter recreation options 39% 47% 5% Temperature and seasonal changes 14% 81% 9% Longer allergy season 37% 54% 3% Loss of habitat/species 13% 83% 5% Increased flooding 22% 3% Decreasing 73%lake and river quality 12% 84% 4% Insect borne diseases 20% Impacts on agriculture and food 4% 11% production75% 85%
5% 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% Precipitation extremes 20% n = 993 76% Not at all concerned Slightly/Somewhat 4% Decreased air quality 16% Moderately/Extremely 80%
5% Temperature and seasonal changes 14% 81%
3%7 Loss of habitat/species 13% City of Northfield Climate Action Plan Appendix D 83%
3% Decreasing lake and river quality 12% 84%
4% Impacts on agriculture and food 11% production 85%
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% City of Northfield | Climate Action Plan Advisory Board Climate Action Plan Survey
Personal Actions and Barriers
Question 4: If any, what actions are you currently taking to reduce the impacts of climate change? Check all that apply.
Reducing waste. 91%
Reducing consumption of electricity and… 73%
Buying local goods and products. 65% Reducing waste is a person- Buying greener products. 57% al action with which almost all Getting informed and involved. 56% (91%) of the respondents partic- ipate followed by reducing con- Consciously buying less stuff. 54% sumption of electricity and nat- Reducing water consumption. 53% ural gas (73%) and buying local goods and products (65%). Reducing fuel consumption. 53%
Eating less meat. 44%
Having a smaller family. 24%
LandLandLandOtherTransportationTransportation (pleaseTransportation specify) WaterWaterWater8.73% FoodFoodFoodEnergEnergEnerg y y Waste y WasteWaste None of the above. 3.53% n = 962 Land TransportationLand TransportationWaterLand TransportationWaterFood EnergWater y FoodWasteEnergFood y WasteEnerg y Waste WasteWasteWaste 91%91%91%
QuestionEnergEnergEnerg y y 4: y Respondent commentsWaste Waste Waste73%73%73% 91% 91% 91% Eighty-four respondents placed a comment about other personal actions they are taking in the com- FoodFoodFood Energ y Energ y 65%65%Energ65% y 73% 73% 73% ment section of question number 4. The information from their comments helped to reinforce the actual survey question as the Foodcomments matchedFood up in similarFood order to the subgroups65% of waste,65% en- 65% ergy, food, transportation, and water. Some simply reiterated the examples given in a survey question (such as saying they are composting) while others wrote about additional actions they were taking such as creating a low maintenance lawn and planting natives species or voluntarily consuming less meat and dairy or foods that are land and water intensive. WaterWaterWater 53%53%53% Additional unique comments described action in the area of education and the political process. TransportationTransportationTransportationThese include educating oneselfWater in environmentalWater53%53%53% mattersWater and sharing this53% information 53%with friends, 53% children, and others, and “speaking up when I can”. Others are becoming more involved politically by LandLandLand 44%44%44% writing to or connectingTransportation with politicalTransportation representativesTransportation and serving on local53% boards and commissions.53% 53% Land Land Land 44% 44% 44% Two respondents wrote that climate change is a hoax. One respondent is taking personal action but for reasons unrelated to climate change. Two more questioned having a smaller family saying that “lower levels of immigration” would do more to help than limiting population increases, and that larger families may actually be more conscientious about resource depletion.
8 City of Northfield Climate Action Plan Appendix D City of Northfield | Climate Action Plan Advisory Board Climate Action Plan Survey
Question 5: If you think there are barriers to addressing climate change, what are they? Choose all that apply.
Difficulty in changing behavioral 79% habits
Lack of public information and 63% education Seventy nine percent (79%) of the respondents recognize that it is difficulty changing behavior Lack of business or industry that contributes to addressing cli- 61% support mate change, followed by lack of public information and education (63%) and lack of business and 54% Cost of implementation industry support (61%).
Public-private coordination 41%
Uncertainty 25%
There is no need to address 3% climate change.
I don’t see any barriers. 2%
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% n = 958
9 City of Northfield Climate Action Plan Appendix D City of Northfield | Climate Action Plan Advisory Board Climate Action Plan Survey
Degree of Support Question 6: There are several ways to reduce a community’s greenhouse gas emissions. Please rate your degree of support for the following suggested possible broad future actions on the core areas below.
TRANSPORTATION - Transition the government used vehicle fleet 5% 14% to electric. 80% TRANSPORTATION - Increase the electric vehicle capability around 4% 12% the city. 84% WASTE - Prevent the creation of residential, commercial, and 4% 10% municipal waste. 86% FOOD - Decrease waste overall.By, for example, banning non- 7% 6% recyclable products and plastic bags. 87% LAND - Create a community plan to reduce sprawl, encourage less 5% 7% vehicle travel and more walking and biking. 88% WATER - Reduce residential, commercial, industrial, and municipal 4% 6% water use. 90% TRANSPORTATION - Transition the government used vehicle fleet 5% TRANSPORTATION - Develop14% infrastructure for pedestrian and 4% to electric. 6% 80% Oppose bicycle transportation. 90% TRANSPORTATION - Increase the electric vehicle capabilityTRANSPORTATION around - Increase4% public transportation options and 3% 12% 6% the city. routes. 84% 91% ENERGY - Update existing buildings to reach higher energy 3% WASTE - Prevent the creation of residential, commercial, and 4% 6% efficiency10% standards. 91% municipal waste. 86% WASTE - Adopt waste disposal practices reducing residential 2% Neither TRANSPORTATION - Transition the government used vehicle fleet 5% 7% FOOD - Decrease waste overall.By, for example, banning14% non- commercial7% trash and recyclables. 91% to electric. 6% 80% recyclable products and plastic bags. 3% 87% LAND - Increase green space around waterways and roads. 4% TRANSPORTATION - Increase the electric vehicle capability around 4% 92% LAND - Create a community plan to reduce sprawl, encourage12% less 5% the city. 7% 84% 2% vehicle travel and more walking and biking. WASTE - Adopt a community-wide composting program. 5% 88% 93% WASTE - Prevent the creation of residential, commercial, and 4% Supoort WATER - Reduce residential, commercial, industrial,10% and municipal 4% 2% municipal waste. ENERGY - Adopt higher6% energy efficient building standards.86% 5% TRANSPORTATION - Transition the governmentwater use. used vehicle fleet 5% 90% 93% FOOD - Decrease waste overall.By, for example, banning non- 7% 14% to electric. 6%WATER - Update the city’s storm water system and other policies to 80%2% recyclable productsTRANSPORTATION and plastic bags.- Develop infrastructure for pedestrian and 4% 5% reduce flooding and to protect6% the Cannon River from pollution.87% Oppose 93% TRANSPORTATION - Increase the electricbicycle vehicle transportation. capability around 4% 90% FOOD - With the12% help of neighboring farms, develop a robust and 1% LAND - Create a community plan to reducethe sprawl, city. encourage less 5% 84%7% TRANSPORTATION - Increase public transportation7%sustainable options food and economy3% to increase the availability of local food. 94% vehicle travel and more walking and biking. 6% 88% WASTE - Prevent the creation of residential,routes. commercial, andFOOD - Increase4% food recovery programs to put unused food back 2% 91% 10% 4% WATER - Reduce residential, commercial,municipal industrial, waste. and municipal 4% into the community. 86% 94% ENERGY - Update existing buildings to reach6% higher energy 3% water use. 6% 90% 1% FOOD - Decrease waste overall.By,efficiency for example, standards. banning non- 7%WATER - Reduce surface and groundwater pollution. 4% 91% 6% 94% TRANSPORTATION - Developrecyclable infrastructure products forand pedestrian plastic bags. and 4% 87% WASTE - Adopt waste disposal practices reducing6% residentialENERGY - Secure2% renewable energy sources (wind, solar, 2% Oppose Neither bicycle transportation. 7% 90% 3% LAND - Create a community plancommercial to reduce sprawl,trash and encourage recyclables. less 5%geothermal, and hydroelectric) for the community. 91% 95% 7% TRANSPORTATION -vehicleIncrease travel public and transportation more walking options and biking. and 3% 1% 88% 6% LAND - Increase the planting3% of trees and create wildlife habitat. 4% routes.LAND - Increase green space around waterways and roads. 4% 91% 96% WATER - Reduce residential, commercial, industrial, and municipal 4% 92% 6% ENERGY - Update existing buildingswater to reachuse. higher energy 3% 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% 6% 2% 90% efficiency WASTEstandards. - Adopt a community-wide composting program. 5% 91% TRANSPORTATION - Develop infrastructure for pedestrian and 4% 93% n = 909 - 6%914 WASTE - Adopt waste disposalbicycle practices transportation. reducing residential 2% Neither Oppose Support 7% 2% 90% commercial trashENERGY and recyclables.- Adopt higher energy efficient building standards. 5% 91% TRANSPORTATION - Increase public transportation options and 3% 93% 10 6% routes. 3% 91% LAND - IncreaseWATER green space - Update around the waterwayscity’s storm and water roads. system and4% other policies to 2% City of Northfield Climate Action Plan Appendix D 5% 92% ENERGYreduce- Update flooding existing and buildings to protect to the reach Cannon higher River energy from pollution.3% 93% 6% efficiency standards. 2% 91% WASTE - AdoptFOOD a community- With the-wide help composting of neighboring program. farms, develop5% a robust and 1% 7% 93% WASTEsustainable - Adopt waste food disposal economy practices to increase reducing the availability residential of local2% food. Support Neither94% 7% commercial trash and recyclables. 2% 91% ENERGY - Adopt higherFOOD energy- Increase efficient food buildingrecovery standards. programs to put5% unused food back 2% 4% 93% into the community. 3% 94% WATER - Update theLAND city’s - stormIncrease water green system space and around other policies waterways to and2% roads. 4% 5% 1% 92% reduce flooding and to protect the CannonWATER River - Reduce from pollution. surface and groundwater pollution. 4% 93% 2% 94% WASTE - Adopt a community-wide composting program. 5% FOOD - With the help of neighboring farms, develop a robust and 1% 93% ENERGY - Secure renewable energy sources7% (wind, solar, 2% sustainable food economy to increase the availability of local food. 3% 94% Support geothermal, and hydroelectric) for the community.2% 95% FOOD - Increase foodENERGY recovery- Adopt programs higher to energy put unused efficient food building back standards.2% 5% 4% 1% 93% into LANDthe community. - Increase the planting of trees and create wildlife habitat. 4% 94% WATER - Update the city’s storm water system and other policies to 2% 96% 1% 5% reduceWATER flooding - Reduce and surface to protect and thegroundwater Cannon River pollution. from pollution.4% 93% 0% 20% 40% 94%60% 80% 100% FOOD - With the help of neighboring farms, develop a robust and 1% ENERGY - Secure renewable energy sources (wind, solar, 2% 7% sustainable food economy to increase the availability of local3% food. 94% geothermal, and hydroelectric) for the community. 95% FOOD - Increase food recovery programs to put unused food back 2% 1% 4% LAND - Increase the planting of treesinto the and community. create wildlife habitat. 4% 94% 96% 1% WATER - Reduce surface and groundwater pollution. 4% 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% 94% ENERGY - Secure renewable energy sources (wind, solar, 2% 3% geothermal, and hydroelectric) for the community. 95% 1% LAND - Increase the planting of trees and create wildlife habitat. 4% 96%
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% City of Northfield | Climate Action Plan Advisory Board Climate Action Plan Survey
Question 6 continued: There are several ways to reduce a community’s greenhouse gas emis- sions. Please rate your degree of support for the following suggested possible broad future actions on the core areas below. For all 19 of the possible future actions, 80-96% of the respondents support the actions, 3-14% of respondents neither support nor oppose, and 1-7% oppose. The highest support is for these actions: securing renewable energy (95%) and increasing energy efficiency standards (93%), decreasing water pollution (94%) and updating storm water systems (93%), planting more trees (96%) and hav- ing more green space around water (92%), making more local food available (94%) and more food recovery programs (94%), and instituting community composting (93%) and improving waste disposal practices (91%).
Additional analysis was done to understand why the support group was so large and to confirm the hypothesis that for the 19 possible future actions, 10 of the actions will have better support than the other 9. In a sentence, there is variation in the degree of support for all 19 future actions. See A deep- er look at support for the 19 possible actions on page 21.
11 City of Northfield Climate Action Plan Appendix D City of Northfield | Climate Action Plan Advisory Board Climate Action Plan Survey
Learning more about Climate Change
Question 7a: What topics would you like more information about? Select your top 5 topics.
None of the above, 73 Other (please specify), 83
Energy efficiency in commercial Renewable energy buildings, 271 alternatives, 575 Alternative transportation choices such as biking and walking, 289 Land Transportation Water Food Energ y Waste
Water conservation, Practicing the 4 Rs – 466 Land Transportation Water Food Energ y Waste refuse, reduce, reuse, Waste recycle, 313 91% Land Transportation Water Food Energ y Waste Waste Energ y 73%91% Transportation efficiency such as Land TransportationEnergy efficiencyWater in Food Energ y Waste using public transport Waste residential buildingsEnerg, y Food 91% or carpooling, 329 440 73%65% Land Transportation Water Food Energ y Waste Waste Energ y Plant-based diet and Food 91% 73% 65% theLand carbon footprintTransportation of Water Food Energ y Waste food, 360 Waste Energ y FoodWaste diversion 73%91% 65% through composting and reusing, 424 Waste Energ y Food 73%91%65% Consumption reduction – food, goods, and Energ y Food products, 413 Carbon sequestration 73% through forestry and Water65% 53% vegetation, 413 Food TransportationWater65% 53% 53% n = 898 Water Transportation Land 53% 53%44% This question asked respondentsWater to Transportationchoose the top 5 topics that they wanted more information about. Out of 898 respondents, 575 (64%) would like more information aboutLand renewable53% energy, 466 (52%) 53% 44% for water conservation, 440 (49%) for energy efficiency in residential buildings, 424 (47%) for waste diversion, 413 TransportationWater(46%) for consumption reduction,Land and 413 (46%) for carbon53% sequestration.53% 44%
WithWater Transportationthis question, 73 respondentsLand wrote in the comments53% section about53%44% being forced to choose 5 topics or not being able to simply check the box “None of the above”. This group of respondents was Transportationomitted from theLand data, and the data was re-analyzed to find53% out44% if the order of the topics changed.The order remained unchanged. Land 44%
12 City of Northfield Climate Action Plan Appendix D City of Northfield | Climate Action Plan Advisory Board Climate Action Plan Survey
Question 7b: Respondent comments
Seventy-six respondents made comments about additional information they would like to receive and provided suggestions for city and community action.
CATEGORY SPECIFIC INFO OR ACTION WANTED Energy Alternative Green Energy besides solar Solar for residential Land fill methane gas capture and use Structures that produce renewable energy Water Flexible fee for water use Rewarding homeowners for water conservation Options to stop polluting southern MN lakes Waste Flexible fee for trash More ways to reduce plastic Community-wide recycling education Building with recycled materials Land Enforcing building codes Native plants and rain gardens Regulating large scale drain tiling Caring for our habitat Why GMOs are good for future environment Food Food recovery Strengthen food production in local area to increase outputs Transportation Commuting options Better connected bike routes Political process Reduce industry emissions Make corporations accountable for energy use County-wide coordination Effective political action Increased capacity in the US to reuse/repurpose our own waste Advocate for change at the state and federal level Make survey information and initiative public Carbon fee and dividend Cost benefit explanation of options listed for survey questions Make community energy use and emissions publicly available Locally focused and relevant vs. general initiatives Finding out what other communities are doing Education Anticipated climate refugee patterns Getting accurate information about climate change How city defines local and global climate change issues Northfield’s contributions to climate change How to include all of Northfield in this process
13 City of Northfield Climate Action Plan Appendix D City of Northfield | Climate Action Plan Advisory Board Climate Action Plan Survey
Question 8: If you would like to reduce your impact, what kinds of resources and/or informa- tion do you think would help you to achieve that? Choose up to 3.
Calculating your own carbon 60% “footprint” The most common way respon- Community events/Workshops 50% dents want to learn about reduc- ing personal impacts associated Informational factsheet 39% with climate change is a person- al carbon footprint tool (60%),
Climate science FAQs 32% community workshops and events (50%), and informational factsheets (39%). Web-based learning 30%
Cas e s tudi es 28%
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% n = 889
14 City of Northfield Climate Action Plan Appendix D City of Northfield | Climate Action Plan Advisory Board Climate Action Plan Survey
Question 9: If you wanted to learn more about Northfield’s Climate Action Plan, how would you want to learn about it? Check all that apply.
City of Northfield website 64%
Community events and workshops 54% The top delivery methods for be- coming informed about planning Social media (Facebook, Instagram, 51% for climate change are the City of Twitter, LinkedIn, etc.) Northfield’s website (64%), com- Northfield News 43% munity workshops and events (54%), the Northfield News E-subscriptions, or email news 41% bulletins (43%), and depending upon age, either social media (51%) or KYMN Radio 95.1 17% e-subscriptions (41%).
City Channel/Cable TV station 10%
The Entertainment Guide 8%
Other (please specify) 4%
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% n = 880
Question 9: Respondent Comments. Thirty-nine respondents took the time to give additional suggestions for how they would like to become informed about planning for climate change in Northfield. They said to use as many sources as possi- ble, “to provide options for people”, to “don’t just shove stacks of information in their face” or provide seemingly random information, and to have coordinated and cooperative informational efforts through- out the community.
They would also like
• Long-term exhibits • A series of coordinated events or informational classes • Events to be advertised in the community education catalog • Information to be put into the high school newspaper and to send information home with students • The City of Northfield’s website easier to navigate • Information put into the City of Northfield water bill newsletter • Before implementing climate change initiatives, mailing to residents details about the cost • The CAPAB get out and speak at schools, churches, businesses, and other groups
In the comment section for question number 9 there was some concern expressed that the city is wast- ing its money on efforts to combat climate change and that any action the city takes will not make any impact on climate change.
15 City of Northfield Climate Action Plan Appendix D City of Northfield | Climate Action Plan Advisory Board Climate Action Plan Survey
Demographics
Question 10: Which of the following describes you? Choose all that apply. Nearly 70% of the respondents Own, rent, or live in neighboring 69% own, rent, or live in Northfield or a community neighboring community; thirty-six percent (36%) attend school in Work in Northfield 29% Northfield; and thirty-two percent (32%) work or own a business in Carls or Olaf student 22% Northfield.
Retr ied 14%
Northfield student 14%
Other 5%
Own a business 3%
100%n = 87999% 95% 0% 20%97% 40%97% 60% 80% 100% 90%
80%Question 11: What is the highest degree or level of education you have completed? 70% 63% 100% 97% 97% 100% 95% 60% For all the survey respondents, 85% 50% 90% 46% education level nearly matches the 80% NF LD Su rv ey 40% U.S. Census Bureau statistics for 70% U.S. Census Northfield except for the respon- 30% 60% dents 25 years and over at the 20% 50% 46% bachelor’s level and above. The 25 10% 7% years and over group is significant- 40% 2% NF LD Suly rv above ey (85%) the U.S. Census 0% 30% High school Bachel or's High school Bachel or's U.S. CensusBu-reau statistic (46%). 20%and above degree and and above degree and above7% above 10% 2% 0% High school Bachelor's High school Bachelor's and above degree and and above degree and above above
n = 208 18-24 years 25 years and over n = 535
The survey respondents are more highly educated than the general population in Northfield. Where the survey was administered - college locations, the senior center, churches, and Rotary – can ex- plain some of the differences.
16 City of Northfield Climate Action Plan Appendix D 100% 99% 95% City of97% Northfield97% | Climate Action Plan Advisory Board 90% Climate Action Plan Survey 80%
70% 63% Question 12: What is your age group? 60% 45% The respondents’ ages match well 50% 46% 40% 39% NF LD Su rv ey with the U.S. Census Bureau data 40% for Northfield. There was no 14 and 35% 33% U.S. Census under age category on the NFLD 30% survey. 30% 20% 25% 23% 10% 7% 20% 20% 20% 2% 18% 17% 0% 16% 15% 14% High school Bachel or's High school Bachel or's and above degree and10% and above degree and above above 5%
0% 14 and under 15-24 25-44 45-64 65+
n = 876
17 City of Northfield Climate Action Plan Appendix D City of Northfield | Climate Action Plan Advisory Board Climate Action Plan Survey
Final Respondent Comments
Question 13: Do you have any other comments or suggestions?
One hundred and ninety-nine respondents took the time to leave a final comment at the end of the survey. Below is a summary of what they said.
CATEGORY SPECIFIC INFO OR ACTION WANTED Waste Implement citywide waste program – need better education to teach citizens how to sep- arate to improve recycling efficiency Increase grocery delivery to reduce impulse buying Work to reduce paper that comes in the mail Provide weekly recycling Institute zero waste policy in Northfield No to plastic bags and straws Provide curbside composting and yard waste More recycling options are needed downtown Make more bulk buying available in stores Reward those who create less recycling/trash 4Rs to 5Rs – Redesign, refuse, reduce, reuse, and recycle Transportation Increase public transportation options to the cities Be mindful of how to serve rural communities Convert all of the City fleets to electric Provide electric outlets powered by clean energy More thoughtfully placed safe bicycle lanes More shoulders on roads for bicyclists More safe sidewalks and tunnels Create a no-idling poly and place signs Energy Cold Fusion Low Energy Nuclear Reaction (LENR) Land fill waste to methane Secure grants and subsidies for CLEAN renewables Other alternative energy options More education about EE appliances and homes Land Regulate agricultural use of drain tiles Enhance green space and street tree program Have community garden plots No more lawns/lawn mowers Intensify butterfly and bee habitat
Work with community to decrease CO2, water contamination, and fertilizer and pesticide use. Water Reward those who use less Decrease agriculture and urban fertilizer and pesticide use Make the Cannon River visible to the public Reduce impervious streets for better storm water management Food Food recovery from local and big box businesses Cheaper organic food More vegan dining options in town
18 City of Northfield Climate Action Plan Appendix D City of Northfield | Climate Action Plan Advisory Board Climate Action Plan Survey
Political process Reinstate and/or make more stringent government standards Incentives and regulations are needed for businesses to reduce waste/pollution Dismantle large extractive corporation and the US military/enact policies for force their reduction in emissions – hold them accountable Apply a carbon fee and dividend Eliminate large confined animal feeding operations Work with Citizen’s Climate Lobby Help individuals, households, and the community to prioritize what is most timely and feasible to avoid future problems Keep the community informed. Let community know what is going on/what individuals can do to help. Don’t place the burden on the resident; encourage – don’t nag or punish How this will be funded? Participate in the Green Economy The City should model and be a leader in sustainability efforts Political will and support is key Regional and state coordination is needed to increase overall effectiveness Focus on what can be done locally to improve day-to-day lives – what can be seen. Entrepreneurs should be responsible to develop innovation for climate change not the government Education The City should take the lead on educating the community Publish the results of the poll Create real-life current and future scenarios to show residents how over time Northfield has changed and is changing Use all avenues to keep residents up-to-date on progress and initiatives Create a city report card so citizens can track progress and outcomes Make learning about climate change less exhausting, paralyzing and hopeless but still need to instill a sense of urgency It is difficult to know exactly what is recyclable – need education Need focused bits of information not one big dump Provide more opportunities for citizens to learn how to change personal actions Enhance social outreach and education through the schools Appeal to parents/grandparents on behalf of their children/grandchildren Partner with HS and college students to conduct related research Partner with faith communities – many are already taking actionable steps More demonstrations/classes in the Northfield schools about climate change Conduct seminars/talks at the schools and colleges
19 City of Northfield Climate Action Plan Appendix D City of Northfield | Climate Action Plan Advisory Board Climate Action Plan Survey
Most of question 13 comments were positive and gave specific suggestions for how to continue to plan for climate change, but some of the respondent’s comments were less supportive such as:
“You cannot create a ‘green’ environment by banning the use of items or forcing them upon people.” Or, “While I am for being responsible with the environment, I am against most government regulations toward that effect.”
This comment perhaps sums up best the feelings of how overwhelming preparing for climate change is:
“Do not have time or finances to make huge changes to lifestyle or transportation, and HIGHLY, HIGHLY OPPOSED to having anything of the sort imposed upon Northfield residents or businesses.”
With respect to whether or not local individual action could help reduce the impacts of climate change, the respondents were divided. For example one respondent said, “It is important to note that personal steps towards decreasing your carbon footprint to help mitigate climate change is in itself minimally effective. The largest contributors towards climate change are around 100 corporations and the US military. Unless policies are enacted to force their reduction in carbon emissions any personal efforts to do such will have no measurable affect on global climate change. They must be the drivers. Per- sonal lifestyle changes will follow through design.”
While others said local action would be helpful: “Think globally, act locally is most important when thinking about climate change.” And, “Your efforts at the local, municipal and community level are well placed. Corrective actions to address climate change will apparently have to be from bottom-up com- mitments. For the time being, top down direction and guidance from the federal and state level will be absent.”
20 City of Northfield Climate Action Plan Appendix D City of Northfield | Climate Action Plan Advisory Board Climate Action Plan Survey
Deeper Analysis A Deeper Look at Support for the 19 Possible Aactions from Question 6. Question 6: There are several ways to reduce a community’s greenhouse gas emissions. Please rate your degree of support for the following suggested possible broad future actions on the core areas below. Transportation - EV govt fleet TransportationTransportation - EV capacity- EV govt fleet TransportationFood - banning - EV bags capacity Land -Food reduce - banning sprawl bags
TransportationLand - - ped/bikereduce sprawl 12 52 oppose TransportationTransportation - public - ped/bike 15 12 52 52 oppose Energy -Transportation update existing - public 0 15 68 52 WaterEnergy - use - reductionupdate existing 21 0 5268 neither support nor oppose Water - use reduction 21 52 neither support nor oppose Energy - EE standards 10 72 least support WasteEnergy - prevention - EE standards 2 10 81 72 least support Land -Waste tree planting - prevention 5 2 80 81 EnergyLand - renewables - tree planting 14 5 72 80 some support some support WaterEnergy - storm - waterrenewables 5 14 82 72 Water - storm water 5 5 82 82 Land - green space most support 5 82 WasteLand - practices - green space 2 85 most support WaterWaste - pollution - practices 6 2 83 85 Water - pollution 6 83 Waste - diversion/composting 3 86 Waste - diversion/composting 3 86 Food - recovery programs 3 88 Food - recoveryFood - local programs 3 88 Food - local 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 Within the support group, support for a possible future action was verified by other measures in the survey: how much personal action people are taking, what kind of information they are requesting, and their concern for climate change impacts.
Using these measures it could be determined which respondents are more fully prepared or knowl- edgeable and would more easily participate with future action.
The yellow bar represents the least supportive respondents in the support group. These are respon- dents who simply checked that they support a possible future action but otherwise are not demon- strating personal action, seeking additional information, or do not have high concern for climate change impacts. Removing the least supportive from the support group, more accurately represents support for future actions. Originally, all 19 future actions had greater than 80% support, now the support ranges from 64-91%. Additionally, with this new breakdown of the 19 possible future actions, it could be argued that there are now 11 actions that have better support than the other 8.
Five of the 19 possible future actions – the ones that do not have green or yellow bars - could not be included in the analysis because a corresponding personal action and information wanted about the topic was not available. It has been inferred that those 5 suggested future actions would have a simi- lar trajectory as their neighbors. 21 City of Northfield Climate Action Plan Appendix D City of Northfield | Climate Action Plan Advisory Board Climate Action Plan Survey
Revised Degree of Support for Possible Future Action Question 6: There are several ways to reduce a community’s greenhouse gas emissions. Please rate your degree of support for the following suggested possible broad future actions on the core areas below.
Degree of Support for Possible Future Action Original % Rank % Revised
Increase trees/habitat 96% 1 ≥91% Sustainable local food economy
Secure renewable energy 95% 2 91% Increase food recovery programs
Reduce water pollution 94% 3 89% More waste diversion programs
Increase food recovery programs 94% 4 89% Reduce water pollution
Sustainable local food economy 94% 5 87% Improve waste disposal practices
Update storm water system 93% 6 87% Increase trees/habitat
Increase energy efficiency standards Update storm water system 93% 7 87%
More waste diversion programs Secure renewable energy 93% 8 86%
Increase green space around water Increase green space around water 92% 9 85%
Improve waste disposal practices Prevent community-wide waste 91% 10 83%
Update energy efficiency in existing Increase energy efficiency standards 91% 11 82% buildings Increase public transportation options Reduce community water use 91% 12 73%
More bike and pedestrian infrastructure Update energy efficiency in existing buildings 90% 13 68%
Reduce community water use Increase public transportation options 90% 14 67%
Reduce community sprawl More bike and pedestrian infrastructure 88% 15 64%
Reduce food packaging waste Reduce community sprawl 87% 16 ≤64%
Prevent community-wide waste Reduce food packaging waste 86% 17 ≤64%
Increase electric vehicle capability Increase electric vehicle capability 84% 18 ≤64%
Transition gov’t vehicles to electric Transition gov’t vehicles to electric 80% 19 ≤64%
This table contains the revised percentages and rank for each of the 19 possible future actions and is a more accurate reflection of true support.
22 City of Northfield Climate Action Plan Appendix D City of Northfield | Climate Action Plan Advisory Board Climate Action Plan Survey
Learning more about Climate Change Topics Breakdown by Age Question 7: What topics would you like more information about? Select your top 5 topics.
LandLandLandLandLandLandTransportationTransportationTransportationTransportationTransportationTransportationWaterWaterWaterWaterWaterWater FoodFoodFoodFoodFoodFoodEnergEnergEnergEnerg yEnergEnerg y yWaste yWaste y yWasteWasteWasteWaste
Group 24 and under 25-44 45-64 65+ 1 Renewable RenewableWasteWasteWasteWasteWaste Waste Renewable Renewable Renewable 91%91%91%91%91%91% energy energy energy energy energy alternatives alternativesEnergEnergEnergEnerg yEnergEnerg y y y y y alternatives alternatives 73%alternatives73%73%73%73%73%
2 Water WaterFoodFoodFoodFoodFoodFood Residential Waste diversion/com65%65%- 65%65%65%Water65% conservation conservation energy efficiency posting conservation
3 Residential Carbon sequestration Reduce Residential Carbon energy efficiency consumption energy efficiency sequestration
4 Waste diver-sion/com- Residential Water Water Waste diversion/com- posting energy efficiency conservation conservation posting
5 Carbon Plant-basedWaterWaterWaterWaterWaterWater diet/foot- Waste diver-sion/com- Reduce53% 53%53%53%53%53% Refuse, Reduce, Re- sequestration print of food posting consumption use, and TransportationTransportationTransportationTransportationTransportationTransportation 53%53%53%53%53%53% Recycle 6 Reduce Reduce Carbon Carbon Residential consumption consumptionLandLandLandLandLandLand sequestration 44%sequestration44%44%44%44%44% energy efficiency 7 Plant-based diet/foot- Waste diversion/com- Plant-based diet/foot- Refuse, Reduce, Re- Plant-based diet/foot- print of food posting print of food use, and print of food Recycle 8 Public Public Public Public Reduce transportation and transportation and transportation and car- transportation and consumption carpooling carpooling pooling carpooling 9 Refuse, Reduce, Re- Commercial Refuse, Reduce, Re- Biking and Public use, and energy efficiency use, and Walking transportation and Recycle Recycle carpooling 1 Biking and Biking and Biking and Plant-based diet/foot- Biking and 0 Walking Walking Walking print of food Walking
1 Commercial Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Commercial Commercial Commercial 1 energy efficiency and energy efficiency energy efficiency energy efficiency Recycle N = 803* N = 332 N = 160 N = 166 N = 145 *Original number of respondents for this question was 898. In 73 of the cases, respondents did not want any more infor- mation but because of the format of the question were forced to choose 5 answers. The answers from those 73 respon- dents have been removed for analysis. Also, 22 cases did not include age so those had to be removed as well. This chart shows the topics each age group is most interested in receiving information on. The colors reflect the CAPAB’s subgroups: Energy, Waste, Food, Land, Water, and Transportation to visually understand the most and least wanted information across the age groups. There are more similarities than there are differences. Two notable difference are that the 24 and under age group places more priority on learning about a plant-based diet than the 45-64 age group, and learning about carbon sequestration is a higher priority for the 24 and under and 65+ age groups than it is for the 25-44 and 45-64 age group. A final notable difference is that the 24 and under age group places less priority on learning about reducing waste.
23 City of Northfield Climate Action Plan Appendix D City of Northfield | Climate Action Plan Advisory Board Climate Action Plan Survey
Topics Breakdown by Age - Percentages Question 7: What topics would you like more information about? Select your top 5 topics.
TOPIC Group 24 and 25-44 45-64 65+ under 1 Renewable energy alternatives 66% 69% 70% 61% 61% 2 Water conservation 54% 57% 50% 50% 53% 3 Energy efficiency in residential build- 50% 48% 58% 51% 44% ings 4 Waste diversion through composting 48% 42% 49% 56% 50% and reusing 5 Carbon sequestration through forestry 48% 51% 45% 43% 51% and vegetation 6 Consumption reduction – food, goods, 47% 47% 55% 49% 36% and products 7 Plant-based diet and the carbon foot- 42% 48% 38% 37% 41% print of food 8 Transportation efficiency such as using 38% 41% 35% 39% 35% public transport or carpooling
9 Practicing the 4 R’s – refuse, reduce, 34% 26% 33% 42% 45% reuse, recycle 10 Alternative transportation choices such 33% 33% 33% 37% 26% as biking and walking 11 Energy efficiency in commercial build- 29% 37% 26% 22% 20% ings N=803 N=332 N=160 N=166 N=145
LandLandLandLandLandLandTransportationTransportationTransportationTransportationTransportationTransportationWaterWaterWaterWaterWaterWater FoodFoodFoodFoodFoodFoodEnergEnergEnergEnerg yEnergEnerg y yWaste yWaste y yWasteWasteWasteWaste
WasteWasteWasteWasteWasteWaste 91%91%91%91%91%91%
EnergEnergEnergEnerg yEnergEnerg y y y y y 73%73%73%73%73%73%
FoodFoodFoodFoodFoodFood 65%65%65%65%65%65%
WaterWaterWaterWaterWaterWater 53%53%53%53%53%53%
24TransportationTransportationTransportationTransportationTransportationTransportation 53%53%53%53%53%53% City of Northfield Climate Action Plan Appendix D LandLandLandLandLandLand 44%44%44%44%44%44% City of Northfield | Climate Action Plan Advisory Board Climate Action Plan Survey
Resources Breakdown by Age Question 8: If you would like to reduce your impact, what kinds of resources and/or informa¬tion do you think would help you to achieve that? Choose up to 3. Group 24 and under 25-44 45-64 65+ 1 Calculating your Calculating your Calculating your Calculating your Calculating your own carbon “foot- own carbon “foot- own carbon “foot- own carbon “foot- own carbon “foot- print” print” print” print” print”
2 Community events/ Community events/ Community events/ Community Informational Workshop Workshop Workshop events/Workshop factsheet
3 Informational Informational Informational Web-based Community factsheet factsheet factsheet learning events/Workshop
4 Climate science Climate science Web-based Informational Climate science FAQs FAQs learning factsheet FAQs
5 Web-based Case studies Climate science Climate science Web-based learn- learning FAQs FAQs ing
6 Case studies Web-based Case studies Case studies Case studies learning
This table represents by age how respondents would like to learn about reducing personal impacts associated with climate change. There are more similarities than there are differences. The most no- ticeable difference in being informed is through web-based learning. Resources Breakdown by Age - Percentages Question 8: If you would like to reduce your impact, what kinds of resources and/or informa¬tion do you think would help you to achieve that? Choose up to 3. Group 24 and under 25-44 45-64 65+ 1 Calculating your own 61% 65% 67% 54% 52% carbon “foot-print” 2 Community events/ 51% 57% 50% 42% 44% Workshops 3 Informational factsheet 39% 38% 35% 33% 49% 4 Climate science FAQs 33% 38% 23% 28% 31% 5 Web-based learning 31% 28% 34% 35% 26% 6 Case studies 28% 34% 25% 19% 28% N=876 N=338 N=177 N=201 N=160
25 City of Northfield Climate Action Plan Appendix D City of Northfield | Climate Action Plan Advisory Board Climate Action Plan Survey
Conclusions and Recommendations
This community survey was carried out to inform the community that actions are being taken at the city level to plan for climate change. The survey was also carried out to gather citizen views about climate change. The survey results will assist the City of Northfield’s CAPAB to write a climate action plan (CAP) that incorporates strategies that fit the community. The survey will also assist with under- standing the education and outreach needs of the community. Based on the data presented in this report, the following conclusions and recommendations have been identified.
Northfield citizens who responded to the survey are concerned, informed, and think about climate change. They are taking actions to reduce waste, reduce energy use, and buy local products. They would like to take more action. They are most concerned about temperature and seasonal changes and what these changes are doing to agriculture and food production, the loss of habitat and species, the decrease in the quality of local lakes and rivers, and the decrease in air quality.
Support for all of the suggested 19 possible future actions is very high. A deeper analysis of the survey results shows that 11 of the actions currently have more support than the other 8. It is important to note that respondent support for any of the 19 possible actions may change in the future as information becomes available and understanding increases. The 11 actions are:
• Make more local food available • Have more food recovery programs • Institute community composting • Decrease water pollution • Improve waste disposal practices • Plant more trees • Update the storm water system • Secure more renewable energy options • Create more green space around water • Prevent community-wide waste • Adopt energy efficiency standards
To help Northfield citizens learn about climate change and take action, a personal carbon footprint tool, informational facts sheets, and community workshops and events should be made widely avail- able. Informing citizens about these learning opportunities should be promoted on the City of North- field’s website, at community workshops and events, in the Northfield News, and via social media or e-subscriptions.
Planned education and outreach efforts should occur while the climate action plan is being written and implemented and should be maintained well into the future (Boswell et al. 2012). From the sur- vey results it is clear that citizens want education and outreach programs that are coordinated, collab- orative, community-wide, and even regional. Citizens also want to participate with reducing the com- munity’s GHGs, so they need information and guidelines from which to take actionable steps.
While support is high for taking action on climate change, there are a small number of respondents who do not support the suggested efforts. It is important to listen to the voices of those who are less enthusiastic about making efforts to tackle climate change. Listening to all opinions respectfully allows for tailoring better education and outreach efforts. Communication should be open and non-judgmen- 26 City of Northfield Climate Action Plan Appendix D City of Northfield | Climate Action Plan Advisory Board Climate Action Plan Survey
tal, inviting all into the conversation. Any education outreach should be evidence-based and tailored to meet the needs of the group it is intending to reach.
Survey results should give each of the 6 CAPAB subgroups an idea of initiatives that would be highly supported and those that will take a little more effort. In addition to providing useful additional sug- gestions for each of the 6 CAPAB subgroup areas -- see respondent comments -- respondents were clear that more “political will” is needed as well as more education for all community groups.
27 City of Northfield Climate Action Plan Appendix D City of Northfield | Climate Action Plan Advisory Board Climate Action Plan Survey
Appendix A: Putting It All Together Appendix A was constructed to show how to use the results from the degree of support for future action question and 3 other survey questions to gain a better understanding of why some of the 19 possible future actions would be easier to implement than the others.
In the table, each of the six CAPAB subgroups is shown along with each subgroup’s corresponding degree of support for future action questions and revised percentages (in the first and second columns). The subsequent columns contain the 3 other survey questions and their percentages, as they are applicable to a subgroup.
Commentary about the relationship between degree of support for future action and the other 3 survey questions is provided to illustrate which possible future actions would be easier to develop strategies for, educate the community about, and then implement. Support for a future action is greater when individuals are already taking personal action in that area and want information on a topic related to the action, and in some instances, support for a future action is demonstrated by high concern for Minnesota’s climate changes.
FOOD Concern for Topics more Support future Taking personal % % MN’s climate % information is % action action changes wanted about IMPACTS ON More food recovery BUY LOCAL 91 65 LAND AND 85 PLANT DIET 40 programs PRODUCE AGRICULTURE More local food LOSS HABITAT ≥91 REDUCE MEAT 44 83 available AND SPECIES Institute bans on non- recyclables and plastic ≤64 bags
Support is high for more food recovery (91%) in the community likely because individuals are con- necting it to the need to reduce waste. Support is high for making more local food available because 65% are taking personal action in this area (buying local produce) and because there is much concern about impacts from climate change to land and agriculture (85%) and to the loss of habitat and spe- cies (83%).
The third action, to institute bans on certain products/practices, has the least support (≤64). These bans are perceived as affecting business. This action could simultaneously be included with waste actions.
An observation here is that there are fewer individuals reducing meat consumption (44%) or wanting- information about a plant-based diet (40%). This may indicate that individuals are not connecting how these activities contribute to either greenhouse gas emissions or reductions. 28 City of Northfield Climate Action Plan Appendix D City of Northfield | Climate Action Plan Advisory Board Climate Action Plan Survey
WASTE Concern for Topics more Support future Taking personal % % MN’s climate % information is % action action changes wanted about Institute waste diversion and WASTE 89 REDUCE WASTE 91 47 community DIVERSION composting Improve disposal BUY GREEN REDUCE 87 57 46 practices PRODUCTS CONSUMPTION Prevent the creation of 83 BUY LESS STUFF 54 4 R’S 35 community waste Support is high for the first two possible actions because personal action in this area is moderate to high - buying less stuff (54%) and reducing waste (91%), and there is moderate interest in learning more about waste diversion (47%) and to reduce consumption (46%).
The third action, preventing the creation of waste in the community, has good support although there is only moderate personal action to buy less stuff (54%) and there is not much interest in wanting information (35%) about the 4R’s (refuse, reduce, repair, and recycle). This third action could easily be tied in with the first two actions when developing an education and outreach plan.
LAND Concern for Topics more Support future Taking personal % % MN’s climate % information is % action action changes wanted about IMPACTS ON CARBON Plant more trees 87 LAND AND 85 46 SEQUESTRATION AGRICULTURE More green space LOSS HABITAT 85 83 around water AND SPECIES Reduce community ≤64 sprawl Support is high for planting more trees (87%) and improving green space around water (85%) because there is much concern about the impact from climate change to land and agriculture (85%), to the loss of habitat and species (83%), and relatedly, to the quality of Minnesota lakes and rivers (84%). That there is moderate interest in learning more about carbon sequestration (46%) points to a growing awareness of activities that can reduce local greenhouse gases.
Reducing community sprawl, the third action, is least supported. This is likely because reducing com- munity sprawl is socially and economically complex and requires long-term vision. 29 City of Northfield Climate Action Plan Appendix D City of Northfield | Climate Action Plan Advisory Board Climate Action Plan Survey
ENERGY Concern for Topics more Support future Taking personal % % MN’s climate % information is % action action changes wanted about Secure renewable REDUCE RENEWABLE 86 73 64 energy ELECTRIC USE ENERGY RESIDENTIAL Adopt higher energy 82 ENERGY 52 efficiency standards EFFICIENCY Update existing COMMERCIAL buildings to reach 68 ENERGY 30 higher energy EFFICIENCY efficiency standards Support is high for the first two actions, securing renewable energy (86%) and adopting higher ener- gy efficiency standards (82%), because personal action on reducing energy use is high (73%). Indi- viduals also want more information about renewable energy (64%) and residential energy efficiency (52%). Building on personal action that is already being taken and incorporating what topics individu- als want more information about should further secure support.
The third action, to update existing buildings to reach higher energy efficiency standards, likely has less support because it is perceived as costly.
TRANSPORTATION Concern for Topics more Support future Taking personal % % MN’s climate % information is % action action changes wanted about More public transport REDUCE FUEL PUBLIC 67 53 37 options USE TRANSPORTAION More pedestrian and WALKING AND 64 32 bike routes BIKING More electric vehicle ≤64 capability
Transition government ≤64 fleet to electric
Support for more public transportation options (67%) and pedestrian and bike routes (64%) is only moderate because there is only moderate personal action being taken to reduce fuel consumption (53%), and there is even less interest in learning more about public transportation options (37%) and walking and biking (32%).
The third and fourth future actions have less support.
30 City of Northfield Climate Action Plan Appendix D City of Northfield | Climate Action Plan Advisory Board Climate Action Plan Survey
WATER Topics more Support future Taking personal Concern for MN’s % % % information is % action action climate changes wanted about
Decrease water REDUCE WATER LAKES AND WATER 89 53 84 52 pollution USE RIVERS CONSERVATION
Update storm water INCREASED 87 75 system PRECIPITATION
Reduce total INCREASED 73 73 community water use FLOODING CHANGING WINTER 47 RECREATION OPTIONS Support for reducing water pollution (89%) and updating the storm water system (87%) is high because there is high concern about what is happening to Minnesota’s lakes and rivers (84%), and concern for in- creased precipitation (75%), and flooding (73%). There is moderate interest in learning more about water conservation (52%).
There is less support for the third action because there is only moderate personal action in the area of reducing water consumption (53%) and wanting more information about water conservation (52%). This may signal a lack of understanding between climate change, personal action, and community practices. The third action would have good potential to be tied in with the first two actions when developing an education and outreach plan.
31 City of Northfield Climate Action Plan Appendix D City of Northfield | Climate Action Plan Advisory Board Climate Action Plan Survey
References Barnes, Jessica and Michael Dove, et al. 2013. “Contribution of Anthropology to the Study of Climate Change.” Nature Climate Change 3: 541-544.
Boswell, Michael R., Adrienne I. Greve, and Tammy L. Seale. 2012. Local Climate Action Planning. Washington, DC: Island Press.
U.S. Census Bureau. 2013-2017 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. https://factfinder.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml?src=CF
US Census Bureau Quick Facts. 2013-2017 Education Estimates. https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/ fact/table/northfieldcityminnesota,US/PST045218
Thank you to all who took the time to take the survey.
Thank you to all who contributed to this project: the City of Northfield staff and interns, the City of Northfield Climate Action Plan Advisory Board, the student and citizen volunteers who helped to ad- minister the survey, the churches, businesses, and clubs where the survey was administered, and the individuals who volunteered time to help analyze the data and design and edit the report.
Direct any questions about this survey to Carla Hansen at [email protected].
32 City of Northfield Climate Action Plan Appendix D A Summary of the Climate Action Plan Advisory Board (CAPAB) Dot Voting Activity Conducted at the 2019 Northfield Earth Day Celebration
Carla Hansen May 1, 2019
Each of the six CAPAB working groups – land, food, waste, transportation, water, and energy -- participated in Northfield’s 2019 Earth Day celebration. In addition to speaking about their group’s progress with the climate action plan during the evening program, each of the six working groups exhibited in the afternoon. They provided educational and interactive displays and handouts to inform the community about climate change and the work they are doing to write a climate action plan.
During the exhibiting time, the CAPAB working groups spoke directly with citizens about specific actions they are exploring to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase Northfield’s resiliency to the effects of climate change. Citizens were encouraged to weigh in on what they thought about these actions by participating in an informal Dot Voting activity answering the question “What do you most want to see in Northfield?” The Dot Voting activity gives a sense of what citizens on that day were thinking.
Below is a simple summary of each working group’s Dot Voting results. This information is useful to each working group to let them know 1) what a subsection of citizens want to see for Northfield and 2) where more education is needed. From the results, more education is needed to understand why increasing community density, minimizing and preventing construction waste, managing potable and flood water, disclosing energy data to potential buyers, and instituting Farm-to-School programs would contribute to future sustainable practices.
n=61 LAND
60% Improve the health of all Respondents see the value in all of the Land soil 40% actions but voted most to improve soil health Plant more trees! (39%) and plant trees (38%). 20% Promote age-friendly dense development 0%
FOOD
50% The respondents are interested in all of the Food 40% Low carbon, sustainable farming actions. Most (43%) emphasize low carbon, sustainable farming. One-third (32%) of the 30% City-led food recovery programs respondents want to see city-led food recovery 20% Farm-to-School programs. 10% programs 0%
1
City of Northfield Climate Action Plan Appendix E MATERIALS & WASTE
80% New recycling and 60% reclamation industries Notice how the respondents (67%) have Proper waste disposal prioritized that we should take responsibility for 40% information our waste. 20% Minimize and prevent waste in construction 0%
n=41 TRANSPORTATION
60% Easier walking and biking Respondents (54%) want easier walking and 40% Electric vehicle options biking. Just over one-third (36%) of the respondents would like to see more electric 20% Increased community vehicle options in Northfield. density 0%
n=41 WATER, WASTEWASTER, AND STORM WATER
Incentives for water 60% conservation It is clear that the majority of respondents (54%) 40% Management of flood prone areas would like more incentives made available to participate in water conservation activities. 20% Monitoring the capacity of the Water Treatment Facility 0%
n=38 ENERGY
60% Green energy incentives Respondents see value in both of these actions: 50% and grants 40% green energy incentives and grants (50%) and Net-zero energy 30% buildings and retrofits net-zero energy buildings and retrofits (45%). 20% Disclosing energy data to 10% homebuyers 0%
2
City of Northfield Climate Action Plan Appendix E What do you most want to see in Northfield?
Number of Respondents Precentage Land: Improve the health of all soil 24 39% Planting more trees! 23 38% Promote age-friendly dense development 14 23% Total 61
Food: Low carbon, sustainable farming 23 43% City-led food recovery programs 17 32% Farm-to-school programs 13 25% Total 53
Waste: New recycling and reclamation industries 29 67% Proper waste disposal information 8 19% Minimized and prevent waste in construction 6 14% Total 43
Transportation: Easier walking and biking 22 54% Electric vehicle options 15 36% Increased community density 4 10% Total 41
Water: Incentives for water conservation 22 54% Management of flood prone areas 11 27% Monitoring the capacity of the Water Treatment Facility 8 19% Total 41
Energy: Green energy incentives and grants 19 50% Net-zero energy buildings and retrofits 17 45% Disclosing energy data to homebuyers 2 5% Total 38
Additional comments that respondents wrote in at the bottom of the Dot Voting sheet:
Land - Planted correctly (trees). Watered the 1st and 2nd years. Please water the trees on 4th St. hill.
Waste - Local solar company wants to educate al their employees about new recycling rules. Pulverize plastic make bricks and roads with them.
3
City of Northfield Climate Action Plan Appendix E Northfield Climate Action Plan
Community Engagement Memo Prepared by: Jenna Greene, May 22, 2019 The City of Northfield is completing a climate action plan that will include strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the community and increase resilience among its residents, built and natural infrastructure. As part of the development of the plan, the city seeks to broaden community engagement efforts to ensure that the plan addresses barriers to the quality of life and physical, economic, and environmental health of residents, particularly the most vulnerable. In alignment with the mission outlined above, Great Plains Institute conducted four community engagement focus group discussion sessions in May 2019 to gather input on priorities, strategies, and implementation involvement from different community groups throughout the city. The focus groups included: • Latinx community organization leaders • St. Olaf and Carleton College students • Business leaders • Northfield High School students The feedback gathered from this process will be incorporated into the Climate Action Plan. The following provides a description of each session, along with outcomes and further actions.
LATINX COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION LEADERS Participants: The session was facilitated by Great Plains Institute. Staff from the City of Northfield, Healthy Communities Initiative (Growing Up Healthy, Link Center), Neighbors United, Greenvale Park Community School, and the CAPAB co-chairs all attended as participants. Description: GPI convened and facilitated a focus group of community leaders who work closely with Northfield’s Latinx and Immigrant communities. The purpose of this focus group discussion was to better understand barriers residents face on issues related to housing, economics, transportation, and health and to incorporate strategies into the Northfield CAP that improve residents’ quality of life. Process:
• Context Setting and Overview: GPI presented on the process of the CAP development, the stakeholders involved in its development, the timeline, and a snapshot of what will be included in the plan in terms of greenhouse gas emissions and community resilience. • Discussion of Concerns: Each participant was asked to write concerns related to the following four topics and share their concerns with the groups. Similar concerns were grouped to identify themes among each area.
City of Northfield Climate Action Plan Appendix F9 Housing Economics Transportation Health • Successes, Targets, and Strategies: GPI facilitated a discussion around prioritized themes to better understand target successes and strategies for success. Outcomes: The group identified concerns related to each of the four topic areas (housing, economics, transportation, and health). Housing and transportation concerns were identified as the most pressing for the Latinx community in Northfield. Participants identified living wage jobs and access to funding for energy improvements as the primary economic concerns. Many of the other economic concerns were embedded in the transportation and housing issues and are summarized in those sections. Health concerns were primarily centered on access to affordable health care. Many are concerned with the rising cost of prescription drugs, access to affordable health insurance, as well as addressing language barriers. Additional considerations include food security, especially access to affordable, healthy options. Some of the concerns related to climate impacts were related to air quality and how that might affect health, especially asthma and allergies.
TRANSPORTATION Goal: All residents have access to reliable, safe transportation options for mobility in-town and regionally
Theme Area Concerns Strategies • Coordinate with colleges on piloting Public • Not enough routes within and outside of rideshare, public transit options, etc. Transportation Northfield • Bring Uber/Lyft to Northfield • Lack of use – doesn’t meet the needs of Voucher access the community o • Ensure city is plugged into regional • Barriers to use: inconvenient hours; transportation system unreliable; operators only speak English; • no guarantee Dial-a-Ride will give you a Coordinate volunteer drivers • spot; bus routes take a long time Rethink layout/design of city for • Renting busses for programming is cost increased mobility options prohibitive • Ensure safe, accessible routes to Mobility Options • Lack of pedestrian and bike lanes in many school areas and neighborhoods
City of Northfield Climate Action Plan Appendix F9 HOUSING Goal: All housing in Northfield is safe, efficient, affordable, accessible
Theme Area Concerns Strategies and Targets
Housing Stock Conditions of mobile homes are unsafe, • Council considering ADU ordinance Quality especially in the face of climate hazards – • Combine healthy home opportunities unanchored, antiquated furnaces, outdated with efficiency HVAC • Home Energy Squad visits in the Energy and • Energy efficiency upgrades not affordable Energy Action Plan – partnering with Efficiency • Need weatherization and efficiency Growing Up Healthy upgrades in low income housing • Strategize funding options to pay for • Pipe freezing concerns, many residents equipment upgrades run water to avoid freezing • Ensure any EE program does not • Lack of access to weatherization programs jeopardize peoples’ housing o Contractors need specialized HVAC equipment to work on mobile homes o Immigration status is a barrier to apply for programs o Housing title needed for programs, not how mobile homes are generally transferred • Northfield could pilot a credit union Homeownership • Barriers for undocumented residents specifically to serve the Latinx Access (access to capital) Community • Need programs to help folks buy homes for first-time buyers • Maintain naturally occurring Affordable • Limited affordable housing – less than 1% affordable housing Housing housing vacancy in Rice County, with no vacancy of affordable housing • No emergency/transition housing, workforce housing • Rental prices are too high • Consider community connections in Isolation of • Affordable housing is not walking distance community planning and housing Housing or easily accessible to necessities programming • Problems of communities in Northfield are invisible to much of the community
Participants emphasized the importance of the City to act on the plan and work on implementing a tangible program soon. Further, they stressed the importance of following through on announced programs to ensure they will happen – which will help to build trust between residents and the City.
City of Northfield Climate Action Plan Appendix F9 ST. OLAF AND CARLETON COLLEGE STUDENTS Participants: The session was facilitated by the Great Plains Institute. Participants included City of Northfield staff, Carleton College Students, and St. Olaf Students. Description: The two colleges in Northfield impact the community’s emissions, resilience, and strategies for addressing climate change. GPI facilitated a conversation with students to brainstorm their role in implementing the plan and to gather input on strategies. Process: • Context Setting and Overview: GPI presented on the process of the CAP development, the stakeholders involved in its development, the timeline, and a snapshot of what will be included in the plan in terms of greenhouse gas emissions and community resilience. • Discussion of Student Involvement: Participants discussed the ways in which they may be involved with plan implementation and their input on CAP strategies. Outcomes: Overall, students emphasized the need for collaboration between the schools and among the Colleges and the City for climate action.
CAP Strategy Feedback Students identified transportation as a priority issue both for their own needs and for the Northfield community more broadly. Ideas included: more reliable and extensive bus routes, scooters/bikes available to students and city residents, and collaboration between Colleges and City for community-wide bike/scooter share. Further ideas and priorities are below. • Events: Students shared their excitement about a climate expo and about students helping with climate-related events • Colleges should divest from fossil fuels • All housing in Northfield should be efficient • Harness student energy and activism in Northfield to (1) mandate climate action as a component of every class; (2) communicate about environmental issues • Incorporate recycling and compost in every business in Northfield Implementation Ideas Methods for Student Involvement in Implementation • Education and Outreach: Create email list to communicate volunteer opportunities; work with College students to engage elementary, middle, and high school students • Innovation and Demonstration: Engage student naturalists and student volunteers on tree planting initiatives • Supporting the Plan: Encourage St. Olaf to start a sustainability office, CAP • Planning and Policy: Students can help with research for best practices Vectors for Involvement • Academic Civic Engagement Courses – semester or quarter-long projects • Student clubs – opportunity for volunteering and engagement • Student Employment – opportunity for student work study or internship with the City
City of Northfield Climate Action Plan Appendix F9 BUSINESS LEADERS Participants: The session was facilitated by Great Plains Institute. Participants included representatives from Sheldahl Flexible Technologies, The Hideaway, Northfield Chamber of Commerce, Hotspot Music, Just Food Coop, a retired employee of Malt O Meal, and a CAPAB Co-chair Description: Commercial and industrial buildings make up a large portion of Northfield’s emissions, and thus can lead on emission reductions. Process: • Context Setting and Overview: GPI presented on the process of the CAP development, the stakeholders involved, the timeline, and an overview of what will be included in the plan • Discussion Business Actions and Strategies: Participants discussed what businesses in Northfield are already doing with regards to climate action, and input on CAP strategies Outcomes: Many business leaders in attendance have been involved in the CAP process thus far on subcommittees. The discussion focused on climate adaptation and climate resilience as they relate to business owners, including actions to date, desires moving forward, barriers, and opportunities.
Climate Mitigation
Actions to date Lighting replacement, adding recycling/compost options
Desires moving Mass compost program, increase bike parking, making it easier for businesses to forward implement efficiency and renewable energy upgrades, bulk procurement of alternatives to single use plastic, teracycle programs, combined heat and power systems, behavior change campaigns for consumers
Barriers to Raising cost of sustainable products, lack of time, barriers to knowledge and implementation information, coordinating initiatives (like bulk purchasing programs) takes time
Opportunities Peer exchange and information sharing
Climate Resilience
Actions to date More reactive strategies: cleaning up from flooding, sandbagging
Desires moving forward Guidance on planning for resilience, ensuring back-up generation availability
Barriers to implementation Money, space for back-up systems
Opportunities City can educate on rain gardens, coverage, lead on park management and turf management, more collaboration on stormwater issues, battery storage, procurement of renewable energy
City of Northfield Climate Action Plan Appendix F9 NORTHFIELD HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS Participants: GPI facilitated the conversation. Participants included Northfield High School Students , TORCH staff, and City of Northfield staff. Description: Youth have been an integral voice in the movement for climate action. The City of Northfield identified high school students as being an important community for CAP implementation. Process: • Context Setting and Overview: GPI provided an overview of the CAP development process • Discussion of Student Involvement: Participants discussed the ways in which they may be involved with plan implementation and their input on CAP strategies Outcomes: • Students shared how they know about climate and environmental topics: classes, the news, Instagram are most influential places for learning about these topics • Students shared what they’re already doing on climate action: diet, waste management • Students shared their perception about how other youth get involved/how they feel about environmental issues: (1) in denial/pessimistic, (2) don’t care, or (3) involved Background Provided: The Northfield CAP includes actions to address greenhouse gas emissions in the community that come from travel, residential energy use, commercial energy use, and waste. The CAP organizes actions under four umbrella strategies: • Education and Engagement - Outreach, campaigns • Policy and Planning - Keeping pressure; be involved in commissions, committees • Innovation and Demonstration - Big idea/pilot project • Supporting the Plan - Youth involvement on resident body/commission Vectors for Implementation • Class – May not have the capacity to do implementation projects. Seniors have capstone projects. • Clubs - Could help to educate other students, collaborate with city, colleges, other school clubs Other Ideas Students shared ideas for implementing climate action plan policies in the following ways. • Have a dedicated teacher/staff member with the Environmental Club to help ensure that these things happen • Locally focused projects – students always looking for volunteer opportunities, can share these opportunities online and through Northfield Shares/Northfield Promise website • Want to provide framework and steps for action for young activists in Northfield • Students are interested in both (1) physical volunteering and (2) education and engagement opportunities • Prioritized Issues: Students expressed an interest mostly in pedestrian accessibility and decreasing mowing and turf
City of Northfield Climate Action Plan Appendix F9