City of Worcester, Massachusetts ClimateClimate ActionAction PlanPlan December 2006 nm viro ent Energy Task Force En al l C a o n u o i n g c e i 1 l R Vision Statement The City of Worcester seeks to be a leader in sustainability. To improve the city’s economic viability and quality of life, we are pursuing the efficient and wise use of natural resources and clean, sustainable sources of energy to serve our needs for mobility, housing, education, community building, economic growth, public safety, and other necessities. The goal of the Climate Action Plan is to reduce Worcester’s energy use and greenhouse gas emissions through a combination of cost- recoverable and cost neutral action. This action will put Worcester on a course towards a sustainable future and improve the quality of life for Worcester’s residents, visitors, workers, businesses and institutions. It is our hope and intention that this Climate Action Plan will inspire responsible resource and energy consumption throughout the greater state, national, and global communities. 2 Acknowledgments The Climate Action Plan was prepared by Energy Consultant Carissa Williams, consultant to the Regional Environmental Council and Coordinator of the City of Worcester’s Energy Task Force. Task Force members provided direction, data, deci- sion making, and review of this document. Between February 2006, when the Energy Task Force was appointed, and September 2006, fourteen meetings where held by the task force and the three sub-committees of Transportation, Energy Efficiency, and Renewable Energy. During these meetings, ideas were exchanged, questions asked, differing points of view brought forward, and decisions made that led to the development of this document. The City of Worcester’s Energy Task Force consists of the following appointed members: Brian Blood NSTAR John Carney Worcester Regional Transport Authority Larry Chretien Mass Energy Consumers Alliance Bob Fiore Assistant to the Commissioner of DPW, City of Worcester Rob Krueger Worcester Polytechnic Institute Jeff Lassey Director of Facilities, Worcester Public Schools Peggy Middaugh Regional Environmental Council Gene Olearczyk Worcester Public Schools John Orrell Purchasing Director, City of Worcester Adam Parker Conservation Services Group John Rugg DPW Fleet Manager, City of Worcester Peter Russo National Grid Eric Twickler Principal Architect, City of Worcester Stephen Willand (ETF Chair) Director of the Division of Workforce Development, City of Worcester Joseph Zwirblia Worcester Regional Airport Commission Special thanks to the following individuals whose input, resources and recommendations were invaluable to the development of the Plan: Phil Brodeur Worcester Regional Airport Jim Christo Massachusetts Technology Collaborative Ben Farmer Alternative Energy Store Phil Guerin Environmental Services, City of Worcester Bob Hoyt Director of Water Filtration, City of Worcester Tyler Leeds Massachusetts Technology Collaborative Kim Lundgren ICLEI - Local Governments for Sustainability Nicholas Marchese Jr. Senior Clerk Typist Steve Russell Fleet Manager, City of Keene, NH Casey Steele Mass Energy Consumers Alliance Karin Valentine Goins Active Citizen, City of Worcester Tom Walsh UBWPAD Also a special thanks to the Mass Technology Collaborative whose Clean Energy Choice matching grant funds made this project possible. 3 4 From the City Manager Climate change is upon us and its effects are already apparent throughout the world. The scope and magnitude of the potential changes to our environment present a clear danger to our way of life and continued economic development worldwide. Our reliance on fossil fuels has left a legacy of a fundamentally al- tered planet. Fortunately, the changes to our climate thus far have not yet af- fected our way of life. However, within a generation we may face changes that will cause great dislocation, strife and energy shortages as the world’s economic development demands more from an oil exploration and production system that has already peaked. It is within this context that we must decide how we, the City of Worcester, will contribute to addressing this challenge. Reducing our greenhouse gas emissions is within our reach. We can reduce the pollution that causes global warm- ing by using currently available technologies that also enhance economic development. In our schools, homes and places of work, we can implement energy efficiency measures, use renewable energy, and increase waste recycling to pollute less and save money. These measures are not in conflict with economic development; instead, they are the basis on which our future economic development and quality of life will rely. Our actions can be an example to others, inspiring responsible energy and resource consumption. As cities around the world make similar commitments, we can collaborate with each other to reduce climate change, improve en- ergy security and improve our economic competitiveness. We all must work together to become more sustainable. By taking part in this global effort we can succeed. Please join me in implementing this plan and achieving a more sustainable Worcester, and help us become “The GREEN heart of the Commonwealth”! Michael V. O’Brien City Manager 5 Table of Contents Executive Summary 11 Summary of Key Proposed Reduction Measures 14 Proposed Next Steps for Key Measures 16 Section One: Introduction 24 1.1 Global Warming and the Enhanced Greenhouse Effect 24 1.3 Global Impacts of Climate Change 29 1.4 Impacts of Climate Change in Massachusetts 30 1.5 What can Worcester do about Climate Change? 31 1.6 The Cities for Climate Protection Campaign® and the City of Worcester’s Energy Task Force 32 1.7 The Five Milestone Process 33 1.8 The Climate Action Plan 33 Section Two: Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory and Reduction Target 36 2.1 2002 Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory 36 2.2 Clean Air and Climate Protection Software 42 2.3 Municipal Reduction Target 42 2.4 Creating New Reduction Targets 43 Section Three: Emission Reduction Measures 44 3.1 Energy Efficiency 47 3.2 Renewable Energy 61 3.3 Transportation and Vehicle Fleet 82 3.4 Waste and Recycling 101 3.5 Green Space 109 3.6 Outreach and Education 115 3.7 Proposed and Completed Emission Reductions Compared with Municipal Reduction Target 119 Section Four: Implementation and Monitoring 121 4.1 Implementation Strategy 121 4.1.1 Environmental Justice Considerations 122 4.2 Monitoring Strategy 122 4.3 Sources of Funding 123 4.4 Ongoing Data Collection 123 Section Five: Conclusions and Next Steps 127 Endnotes and References 128 6 Appendices Appendix A: Municipal Policies and Resolutions 131 Cities for Climate Protection Resolution: Passed October 2003 131 Clean Energy Resolution: Passed March 2005 132 Energy Coordinator Resolution: Passed September 2005 133 Municipal Energy & Resource Efficiency Policy: Proposed 136 Municipal Green Building Policy: Proposed 140 Anti-Idling Policy: Proposed 141 Fuel Efficient Vehicle Purchasing Policy: Proposed 142 Environmentally Preferable Purchasing Policy: Existing 143 Appendix B: Resources 145 Appendix C: Timeline of Worcester’s CCP Involvement 150 Appendix D: Energy Task Force Meeting Minutes 152 Appendix E: Data Assumptions and Calculations 176 Appendix F: Sources of Funding 198 Appendix G: NGRID’s Energy Management Resources 211 Appendix H: Municipal Government Organization 213 Appendix I: Fuel Efficient Vehicles List 214 Appendix J: Wind Resources from ECO Industries 222 Appendix K: Hydro Power Price Quotes 226 Appendix L: Solar PV Case Studies from Mass Energy 228 Appendix M: Urban Environmental Accords 232 Appendix N: How To Use BioDiesel 233 Photo and Graphic Credits 235 7 Figures Figure 1. Sources of GHGs 16 Figure 2. Enhanced Greenhouse Effect 17 Figure 3. Atmospheric Concentrations of Greenhouse Gases in Relation to Anthropogenic Emissions: 1750-2000 17 Figure 4. Avg. Annual Northeast Temperature 1900-2000 18 Figure 5. Predicted Temperature Increases in the NorthEast 18 Figure 6. Summers In Massachusetts 19 Figure 7. Potential Impacts of Climate Change 22 Figure 8. Worcester’s Greenhouse Gas Emissions by Sector: Residential GHG Emissions Broken Down by Source 29 Figure 9. The Efficiencies of Fuels: Residential Greenhouse Gas Emissions vs. Energy Produced 30 Figure 10. GHG Emissions of Select CCP Communities 30 Figure 11. Worcester’s GHG Emissions by Source 30 Figure 12. Worcester Criteria Air Pollutants and GHG Emissions per Capita 31 Figure 13. Municipal GHG Emissions by Sector 31 Figure 14. Electricity Consumed by Municipal Buildings 31 Figure 15. 2005 City-Wide Solid Waste Stream 32 Figure 16. Worcester’s Waste Stream: Recycling vs. Trash 1994-2005 32 Figure 17. Percent of Recycling in Worcester’s Waste Stream 32 Figure 18. Annual Electricity Consumption per Worcester Household 33 Figure 19. Business as Usual vs. 11% Reduction Target 35 Figure 20. Average Household Energy Use 48 Figure 21. Payback Period on Different Renewable Energy Technologies without Financial Incentives 53 Figure 22. Electricity Sources for National Grid’s Standard Offer 54 Figure 23. Renewable Energy Certificate Generation 56 Figure 24. Flow of Elecrtricty, Money, and Renewable Energy Certificates 56 Figure 25. Basic Emission Correlation. Average emission impacts of biodiesel for heavy-duty highway engines. 81 Figure 26. Estimated US Biodiesel Production. Source: National Biodiesel Board. 82 Tables Table 1. Health Effects of Criteria Air Pollutants 45 Table 2. Residential Energy Efficiency Options 57 Table 3. GreenUpSM and Clean Energy