BOARD MEETING DATE: November 5, 2010
AGENDA NO. 26

PROPOSAL:

Climate Change Committee

SYNOPSIS:

The Climate Change Committee met on Wednesday, October 13, 2010. Following is a summary of that meeting.

RECOMMENDED ACTION:

Receive and file.
 

Miguel Pulido, Acting Chair
Climate Change Committee

Attendance

The Climate Change Committee meeting was held on October 13, 2010. Committee members who participated were Supervisor Josie Gonzales and Mayor Miguel Pulido. Dr. William Burke, Councilmember Judith Mitchell and Mayor Ron Loveridge were absent.

The meeting convened at 8:50 a.m. 

Discussion / Action Items 

Dr. Barry Wallerstein, Executive Officer, welcomed the committee members and then self introductions were made.

RFP for Additional GHG Reduction Projects

Jill Whynot, Director of Strategic Initiatives, described an RFP that staff will bring to the Governing Board for consideration at their November 5, 2010 meeting. Three hundred thousand dollars has been received from Chevron as additional mitigation funds related to a CEQA project on a previous refinery modification. Chevron previously paid $1.5 million, which was used for a large reforestation project in the Angeles National Forest.

The RFP would seek one or more projects for greenhouse gas (GHG) reductions in the AQMD jurisdiction. Projects would follow pre-approved protocols in Regulation XXVII – Climate Change.

Review criteria would include up to five points each for projects implemented within five miles of the refinery or for quantifiable co-benefits. If the RFP is approved, a voluntary bidder’s conference would be held in mid-November of 2010 and the recommendation for contract awards would go to the Governing Board in February 2011.

This was an action item, however less than a quorum was present for the discussion of this item. The members present indicated their support that this item be recommended for approval by the Board.

Chairman’s Initiative for Urban Tree Planting

Aaron Katzenstein, Program Supervisor, updated the Committee on the Urban Tree Planting program, which was one of the Chairman’s Initiatives for 2009. This program will result in approximately 11,000 California native, low-biogenic VOC trees being planted throughout the AQMD jurisdiction. Thirty three cities and two counties are participating. To date, approximately 600 trees have been planted. The program also includes a student employment component.

Mayor Pulido inquired if there would be funds for additional city projects. Dr. Katzenstein mentioned that some cities will not be able to plant the total number of trees originally planned, so there may be some remaining funds. Supervisor Gonzales stated that it would be good to put such funds back to work. She asked about the size of trees required, as trees that are too large have lower survival rates. Under these contracts, the acceptable size range is 15 gallon to 24 inch box.

Reforestation Project

Dr. Katzenstein provided a briefing on the reforestation project within the Station Fire area in the Angeles National Forest. This project was funded by AQMD using $1.5 million that Chevron paid as a mitigation fund for a refinery project at their El Segundo facility. The U.S. Forest service, through the National Forest Foundation, will replant 2,500 to 4,000 acres under this project. 470,000 seedlings are being grown to support this effort. Planting will occur in Spring 2011 and GHG reductions will be monitored and verified to ensure accurate quantification.

Supervisor Gonzales suggested that this project be included in information that goes to the community to promote AQMD’s programs. She and Mayor Pulido both were very pleased with this effort.

Update on Green Team Activities

Ms. Whynot summarized activities of the AQMD Green Team, which was formed ten months ago. A group of employees, representing each division and the two labor unions meets quarterly to work on green initiatives from the AQMD Green Policy and review employee suggestions. Many accomplishments have been realized or are in progress.

Several graphs and charts were shown to illustrate the AQMD’s GHG emissions and related metrics.

Mayor Pulido asked to see more frequent updates on these efforts. Supervisor Gonzales asked if the data presented for AQMD included tenants that share our building. Staff responded that in some areas, such as electricity usage, that is true. Supervisor Gonzales recommended that we work with our tenants to make sure they are cognizant of our green initiatives. Dr. Wallerstein will ask staff to meet with tenants to discuss this and to actively seek their participation.

Update on Discussions with CARB Regarding Implementation for Local Air Districts

Ms. Whynot reported on recent developments regarding air district participation in the state’s proposed cap-and-trade program and verification of mandatory GHG emission reports. The initial draft cap-and-trade rules included many restrictions on how entities could or could not participate in various roles related to program implementation. Local air districts were treated in the same manner as private, for-profit, businesses. Staff has drafted suggested language and is working, with contractor assistance, to get language included in the next draft rule language. CARB staff has been receptive to some of these concepts, so staff is cautiously optimistic that AQMD may be able to have an expanded role.

The other area of positive progress relates to GHG verification for mandatory emission reports that large facilities have to submit to CARB. Last winter, approximately a dozen AQMD staff took a one-week CARB training class and got certified as GHG emission verifiers. However, they cannot perform this function until the AQMD is given verification body status. CARB staff will approve AQMD and one to two other local air districts as verification bodies.

In addition, CARB staff will propose clarifying language for the mandatory reporting rule in December 2010. Dr. Wallerstein will brief Mayor Loveridge on these two items before the December 2010 CARB Board meeting.  

Closing Remarks

None

Other Business

None

Public Comments

None 

The meeting adjourned at 9:30 a.m. 

Attachment (DOC, 51k)

Attendance Roster