EASTON GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS

REDUCTION TARGET
PREPARED BY: KATHRYN SEMMENS AND TINA ROSEBERRY

MAY 23, 2018 EASTON CITY COUNCIL MEETING 1

GLOBAL COVENANT OF MAYORS
The Global Covenant of Mayors for
Climate & Energy is an international
alliance of cities and local
governments with a shared long-term
vision of promoting and supporting
voluntary action to combat climate
change and move to a low emission,
resilient society.
GLOBAL COVENANT
TIMELINE

Currently at Year 2

1. Updating Inventory
2. Setting Reduction Target
3. Vulnerability Assessment

Deadline June 20th

MAY 23, 2018 EASTON CITY COUNCIL MEETING 3

GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS REDUCTION TARGET

We seek City Council approval of emissions reduction target

Emissions Reduction Target:
80% reduction of 2016 baseline emissions by 2050
Intermediate Target (assess how progress is being made):
30% reduction of 2016 baseline emissions by 2030

MAY 23, 2018 EASTON CITY COUNCIL MEETING 4

RATIONALE

 Majority of Global Covenant of Mayors cities have adopted a similar target

 Makes Easton a leader in the Lehigh Valley
 Reduces vulnerability and hazard risk for the community

MAY 23, 2018 EASTON CITY COUNCIL MEETING 5

OBSERVED CHANGES PROJECTED CHANGES

Source:
NOAA/NCEI
LAFAYETTE EMISSIONS GOALS

• 15% by 2027 (2008 base year), 35% by 2031, 55% by 2035, 60% by 2039
If Lafayette accomplishes its 2039 goal they will reduce Easton’s current emissions by ~4%

• In process of being updated→ upon completion of energy audit/climate action plan

Working with Stone House Group, an environmental consulting firm

MAY 23, 2018 EASTON CITY COUNCIL MEETING 7

 CITIES USING BASELINE YEAR REDUCTION TARGET

Based on similar population size and geographic location (similar climate), the following cities are some peer
models for Easton to explore how the city may enact Method 1 and determine appropriate baseline year reduction
targets:

Northampton, MA Burlington, VT Lancaster, PA

• Population: ~ 28,000 (2016) • Population: ~ 42,000 (2016) • Population: ~ 59,000 (2016)
• Goals: Baseline Year 2000 • Goals: Baseline Year 2007 • Goals:
2022 → 30% 2020 → 20% 2050* → 80%
2050 → 80% 2050 → 80% *In process of formalizing goals

MAY 23, 2018 EASTON CITY COUNCIL MEETING 8

SALT LAKE CITY CLIMATE POSITIVE EXAMPLE

MAY 23, 2018 EASTON CITY COUNCIL MEETING 9

 WHERE WE ARE CURRENTLY

Total 2017 and 2016 (Baseline) Emissions (metric tonnes CO2e)

2017 2016
TOTAL Scope 1 1.86% reduction
emissions (natural gas, in one year
transportation) 199,041 203,727
TOTAL Scope 2
Assuming this is
emissions (electricity) 145,329 147,172
repeated
TOTAL BASIC
60% reduction by 2050
emissions 344,370 350,900
Emissions per capita 12.8 13
MAY 23, 2018 EASTON CITY COUNCIL MEETING 10
CONSIDERATIONS FOR STRATEGIES

Source Electricity Natural Gas

usage usage
percentage percentage
 Sources
Residential 39% 39%
 Cost effectiveness
Commercial 26% 32%
 Feasibility Industrial 35% 29%
Municipal 3% 0.2%
Northampton 2.5% 2.22%
Lafayette 7.5% 8%

MAY 23, 2018 EASTON CITY COUNCIL MEETING 11

BREAKDOWN OF EMISSIONS BY SECTOR

MAY 23, 2018 EASTON CITY COUNCIL MEETING 12

BREAKDOWN OF ELECTRICITY AND NATURAL GAS USE

MAY 23, 2018 EASTON CITY COUNCIL MEETING 13

 RESIDENTIAL ENERGY EFFICIENCY

 Energy costs ~19% of total annual income for low income households who are already cost burdened

(HUD defines cost-burdened families as those “who pay more than 30 percent of their income for housing” and “may have difficulty affording

necessities such as food, clothing, transportation, and medical care.”)

 A homeowner can save 20% - 30% on energy costs by improving energy efficiency

Ex. New windows, LED lighting, new furnace, sealing and insulating a home, energy efficient appliances

MAY 23, 2018 EASTON CITY COUNCIL MEETING 14

 STRATEGIES FOR ACHIEVING TARGET – NEAR TERM
Home
 Awareness of consumption
 Behavior change –
walk/bike instead of drive
 Energy efficiency upgrades
in home (if own)
 Purchase electricity from
renewable sources
MAY 23, 2018 EASTON CITY COUNCIL MEETING
Business/College
 Awareness of consumption
 Energy efficiency upgrades
 Purchase electricity from
renewable sources
City
 Already achieved! Will move
from 50% to 100% renewable
electricity sources by 2019
(reduces emissions by 3-4%)
 Develop climate action plan
(outlines strategies for meeting
goals)
15
 STRATEGIES FOR ACHIEVING TARGET – MID TERM

Business/College City
Home  Urban Forest development
 Consider flexible work
 Behavior change – source options (telecommute)  Increase energy efficiency
local products; reduce
waste; reduce driving  Green roofs; plant trees on retrofits of affordable housing
property
 Energy efficiency upgrades  Conduct education campaign
 Electric charging stations;
in home (if own)  Street light conversion to LED
use electric vehicles
 Plant trees on property  Source local products;  Building retrofit code
reduce waste

MAY 23, 2018 EASTON CITY COUNCIL MEETING 16

 STRATEGIES FOR ACHIEVING TARGET – LONG TERM

City
Home
Business/College  Generate renewable energy within
the City limits – hydropower (New
 Behavior change – source
 Generate own energy England Hydropower), wind or solar
local products; reduce
through wind or solar  Change traffic patterns to
waste; reduce driving encourage more efficient movement
 Retrofit inefficient buildings
 Energy efficiency upgrades  Create alternative public
in home (if own)  Reduce transportation transportation options; curate a
culture of walking/biking
needs/cultivate public
 Install solar panels  Change fleet to electric; reduce VMT
transportation options for (more police on bikes)
 Buy electric car employees/student
 Methane recovery from waste
treatment plant
MAY 23, 2018 EASTON CITY COUNCIL MEETING 17
HOW DO WE GET TO THE 80% BY 2050 TARGET?

Disclaimer:
These are
rough
estimates
with many
assumptions
and are for
illustrative
purposes
only.

MAY 23, 2018 EASTON CITY COUNCIL MEETING 18

HOW DO WE GET TO THE 80% BY 2050 TARGET?

Disclaimer:
These are
rough
estimates
with many
assumptions
and are for
illustrative
purposes
only.
19
HOW DO WE GET TO THE 80% BY 2050 TARGET?

Disclaimer:
These are
rough
estimates
with many
assumptions
and are for
illustrative
purposes
only.

20
MAY 23, 2018 EASTON CITY COUNCIL MEETING 21
 EXAMPLE -
SAN
FRANCISCO
CLIMATE
ACTION
STRATEGIES

MAY 23, 2018 EASTON CITY COUNCIL MEETING 22

CLIMATE ACTION PLAN
 Next step is to develop a CLIMATE ACTION PLAN
 Required in year 3 of the Global Covenant Commitment
 Hire consultant to complete the plan
 Details how to achieve target via mitigation strategies
 Many other municipalities have created working groups or task forces to
help develop the climate action plan (includes university, business, electric
utility, government, NGO and residential representatives)

MAY 23, 2018 EASTON CITY COUNCIL MEETING 23

QUESTIONS?

Contact
 Tina Roseberry, Director of Planning and Zoning, City of Easton,
troseberry@easton-pa.gov
 Dr. Kathryn Semmens, Science Director, Nurture Nature Center,
ksemmens@nurturenature.org

MAY 23, 2018 EASTON CITY COUNCIL MEETING 24

EASTON SPECIFIC INFORMATION

MAY 23, 2018 EASTON CITY COUNCIL MEETING 25

COMMUNITY ELECTRICITY USE

2017 2016 Difference

TOTAL 371,439,712 376,239,103 -4,799,391

Commercial 96,422,085 98,062,807 -1,640,722

Industrial 128,790,545 131,247,009 -2,456,464

Street Lighting 2,283,567 2,337,792 -54,225

Residential 143,943,515 144,591,495 -647,980

MAY 23, 2018 EASTON CITY COUNCIL MEETING 26

COMMUNITY NATURAL GAS USE

2017 2016 Difference

Annual Usage Annual Usage (in ccf)

(in ccf) (in ccf)

Residential 7,475,249 7,523,204 -47,955
Commercial 6,151,110 6,101,596 49,514
Industrial 5,695,216 6,103,124 -407,908

Company Use 25,516

Grand Total 19,347,091 19,727,924 -406,349

MAY 23, 2018 EASTON CITY COUNCIL MEETING 27

 CITY OF EASTON ELECTRICITY USE

2017 2016
Buildings 5,469,264 5,328,390 140,874

Street Lights 1,690,947 1,662,648 28,299

Sewage Pump 1,159,448 1,193,039 -33,591

Parking Garages 733,186 663,485 69,701

Public Mkt 557,405 458,080 99,325

Traffic Lights 471,810 481,911 -10,101

Parks 202,445 188,546 13,899

Public Works 148,958 116,268 32,690

Bus Depot 125,915 156,960 -31,045

Center Sq 117,570 108,159 9,411

Fire Stations 115,622 111,301 4,321

MAY 23, 2018 EASTON CITY COUNCIL MEETING Parking Lots 12,480 12,729 -249 28

Pedestrian 1,864 1,872 -8

Total 10,806,915 10,483,388 323,527

CITY OF EASTON NATURAL GAS USE

2017 2016 Difference

Gas 39,071 40,243 -1,172 ccf
Heating oil 11,739.40 10,219 1,521 gallons

MAY 23, 2018 EASTON CITY COUNCIL MEETING 29

CITY OF EASTON FLEET

2016 Fuel 2017 Fuel

Description Consumption (gal) Consumption (gal) Difference 2016 VMT 2017 VMT Difference
Fleet gasoline consumption 13,291 19,471 6,180
Fleet diesel consumption 17,812 29,059 11,247
Light Duty Vehicles 257710 367437 109727
Medium/Heavy Duty Trucks 127342 218693 91351
Diesel Construction Equip. 651 182 -469 651 182 -469

MAY 23, 2018 EASTON CITY COUNCIL MEETING 30

LAFAYETTE
2016 2017
Campus building
electricity 28,080,722 27,961,152 kWh
Natural gas 160,466 159,686 MMBtu
No. 6 fuel oil 15,008 MMBtu
No. 2 fuel oil 3,933 7,594 MMBtu

Fleet:
unleaded regular
gasoline 23,102 27,336 gal
unleaded plus
gasoline 44 143 gal
diesel 4,364 3,570 gal

MAY 23, 2018 EASTON CITY COUNCIL MEETING 31