BOARD MEETING DATE: March 5, 2010
AGENDA NO. 30

PROPOSAL:

Climate Change Committee 

SYNOPSIS:

The Climate Change Committee met on Friday, February 5, 2010. Following is a summary of that meeting.

RECOMMENDED ACTION:

Receive and file.
 

Dr. William Burke, Chair
Climate Change Committee

Attendance

The Climate Change Committee meeting was held on February 5, 2010. Committee members in attendance were Committee Chair Dr. William Burke, Supervisor Josie Gonzales, and Councilmember Tonia Reyes Uranga. Mayor Miguel Pulido and Mayor Ron Loveridge were absent. Board Member Dr. Joseph Lyou was also present and participating at the meeting but not serving on the Committee.

The meeting was chaired by Dr. William Burke and convened at 11:10 a.m. 

Discussion Items 

Greenhouse Gas (GHG) CEQA Mitigation Options for Chevron Project

Jill Whynot, Director of Strategic Initiatives, provided a summary of the available GHG reduction projects which could be financed with the $1.5 million received from Chevron to mitigate CO₂ emissions from their Product Reliability and Optimization (PRO) project. Projects reviewed were options already approved under Regulation XXVII for CO₂ reductions, including forestry projects, urban forestry, and manure management. An additional project, replacing conventional fluorescent lighting with LED lighting at schools or the refinery, was included for review at the suggestion of Dr. Lyou at the January Board meeting.

Staff compared the different projects relative to emission reductions, cost, and project life. Dr. Lyou noted that the estimated costs per LED lights appeared high in staff’s presentation, and showed a slide of several different vendors with prices per light.  Staff noted that LED replacement lighting currently is not as cost-effective as other mitigation options.  The costs and efficiencies of LED lighting will continue to be monitored with pilot projects at SCAQMD headquarters. It was recommended that the Chevron GHG mitigation funds be used for a forestry project.

Staff will work with the National Forest Foundation (NFF), who will implement the planting project in the Angeles Forest.  Dr. Lyou inquired about the additionality of the project, stating that the forest service might replant these acres with or without SCAQMD funding.  Staff noted that the project meets additionality requirements because an estimated 15,000 acres of trees are needed for replanting within the Station Fire burn area in the Angeles Forest.  The forestry service can only replant 4,000 acres in 2011, and has no funding identified.

Councilmember Reyes Uranga inquired about how emission reductions are calculated and verified for this type of project. Emission reductions will be based on a conservative modeling estimate, and emission reductions will be verified by a third party. Dr. Elaine Chang, Deputy Executive Officer of Planning, Rule Development & Area Sources, added that the NFF only counts every third tree as providing reductions, so emissions mitigation estimates are conservative. The NFF will also be planting a redundant forest, which will continue to provide mitigations even if the subject project burns down or the trees do not survive.

The Committee members expressed support for the staff recommendation.

SCAQMD Diamond Bar Facility Electric Energy Self-Sufficiency Plan

Dr. Matt Miyasato, Assistant Deputy Executive Officer of Technology Advancement, gave a briefing on the potential for self-generation of electricity at the AQMD headquarters. Currently, self-generation at District headquarters is approximately 580 kW from microturbines and solar photovoltaics. In addition, 400 kW are available from a natural-gas-fired back-up generator. The building load is approximately 500 kW for base power, with demand being highest during the summer at 2.2 MW due to heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) needs.

Additional photovoltaics, microturbines, fuel cells, wind turbines or other technologies could be employed to increase electricity production. To decrease electricity demand, additional energy conservation should be pursued, such as enhanced HVAC controls, turning off lights and computers, waste-heat recovery systems, and more efficient lighting.

To reach self sufficiency, $8.7 million in capital investments would be needed. Staff has requested a $4.9 million grant from the Department of Energy, which would fund a significant portion of the energy generation. A further study is recommended to refine proposals and identify other technologies to showcase.

Supervisor Gonzales commented that energy plans should take into account future energy needs at the building, as the use will rise as vacant office space at the building becomes re-occupied. Chairman Burke would like to see analysis to cover peak use, average or base load use.

Staff recommends future actions to include an internal audit of opportunities for energy saving, a third-party review of the plan, a request for design bids, and evaluation of outside funding sources for the project.

The Committee members expressed support for these recommendations. 

Other Business

There was no other business.

Public Comment

No public comment.

Adjournment

The meeting adjourned at 11:40 a.m. 

Attachment (DOC, 44k)

Attendance Roster