COUNTY OF SAN MATEO

Inter-Departmental Correspondence

Board of Supervisors

 

DATE:

November 7, 2005

BOARD MEETING DATE:

November 15, 2005

SPECIAL NOTICE/HEARING:

None

VOTE REQUIRED:

Majority

 

TO:

Honorable Board of Supervisors

FROM:

Supervisor Jerry Hill

Supervisor Rose Jacobs Gibson

SUBJECT:

Resolution authorizing the County to Participate in the Sustainable Silicon Valley Initiative and Commit to Reducing Carbon Dioxide (CO2) Emissions Through Reducing Energy and Fuel Consumption

 

Recommendation

Adopt a resolution to support the goal of Sustainable Silicon Valley Initiative to reduce CO2 emissions in the region by setting and working towards the following goals for the County using 2004/05 as a baseline:

 

1.

Reduce CO2 emissions by 10% by 2010.

 

2.

Reduce the amount of electricity supplied by the grid (PG&E) to existing County facilities by 20% by 2010.

 

3.

Maintain the current level of natural gas consumption in facilities, even while switching to energy efficient gas fired co-generation plants at the Maguire Jail and the San Mateo County Medical Center.

 

4.

Raise the published miles per gallon (mpg) average of the County passenger vehicle fleet by 5 mpg by 2010.The current average of County passenger vehicles is 22 mpg.

 

In addition, the resolution commits the County to becoming a partner in the Sustainable Silicon Valley Carbon Dioxide Emissions Reductions Project and to report annually on the progress made in reducing CO2 emissions.

 

Vision Alignment

Commitment: Responsive, effective and collaborative government

Goal(s): Goal 20: Government decisions are based on careful consideration of future impact, rather than temporary relief or immediate gain.

 

Goal 22: County and local governments effectively communicate, collaborate, and develop strategic approaches to issues affecting the entire County.

 

Adoption of the proposed regulation will demonstrate our continuing commitment to conserve energy and practice environmental stewardship.

 

Background

Previous Board Action

This Board has taken several actions over the past few years to reduce energy consumption and improve air quality in the County, including:

 
 

1992:

Established the Commute Alternatives Program, which provides a subsidy to encourage our employees to use mass transit instead of single occupant vehicles in commuting to work;

 
 

1995:

Approved the County’s participation in the Environmental Protection Agency’s Green Lights Program to improve the energy efficiency of the County Buildings;

 
 

2000:

Adopted an ordinance that regulates the use of certain fuels in wood burning stoves and fireplaces;

 
 

2001:

Adopted the Sustainable Building Policy, which requires that new County buildings be designed and constructed to the highest practicable Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards;

 
 

2002:

Adopted a Clean Vehicles Procurement policy, which requires consideration of acquisition of the lowest emission vehicles for the County fleet, with the exception of public safety and emergency vehicles; and

     
   

Approved several other programs that reduce CO2 emissions such as recycling, waste reduction, and traffic congestion reduction.

 

History

The Kyoto Protocol, an international treaty on global warming, recognizes the affect on the climate by CO2 and other greenhouse gas emissions, including the possible increase in the average global precipitation; soil moisture decline in many regions; intense rainstorms becoming more frequent; and an estimated rise in the sea level of two feet along most of the United States coast. The Protocol was negotiated in 1997 and ratified in February 2005, with the United States as a notable exception. In October 2005, 182 Mayors representing nearly 40 million Americans committed to the US Mayors Climate Protection Agreement to “meet or exceed” the Kyoto Protocol goals of 5.2% reduction in greenhouse gases by 2010 from the 1990 levels.

 

Sustainable Silicon Valley, a nonprofit organization initially comprised of the California Environmental Protection Agency, the Silicon Valley Manufacturing Group and the Silicon Valley Environmental Partnership, identified CO2 emission reduction as the foremost environmental goal for the area and created the Sustainable Silicon Valley Initiative to address this issue. Sustainable Silicon Valley works with businesses and municipalities to reduce CO2 emissions, provides educational and networking forums, and offers recognition and encouragement to their partners.

 

Discussion

Sustainable Silicon Valley has a goal to reduce CO2 emissions in the region to 20% below the 1990 levels for the Bay Area by 2010, and asks businesses and governmental agencies to set a reduction goal for their organizations.

 

This pie chart illustrates the energy sources that the County is using and how much each energy source contributes to the County’s overall CO2 emissions.

 

Joining the Sustainable Silicon Valley Initiative will offer access to educational forums and assistance and acknowledgement of San Mateo County as a leader in air quality, energy reduction, and climate change programs.

 

We believe proposed goals as described in the Recommendation section of this report are reachable yet challenging, and demonstrate a commitment by this Board to preserve and enhance the quality of life in the County.

 

The County will need to work to meet these goals if the resolution is approved by this Board, by continuing to:

 
 

Ø

Increase the energy efficiency in County facilities

 

Ø

Choose gas-electric hybrid vehicles and other fuel-efficient models when purchasing new vehicles.

 

Ø

Build energy efficient LEED buildings

 

Ø

Promote alternative transportation options for County staff

 

Ø

Expand the County’s enrollment in demand response programs (PG&E’s Flex Your Power NOW!) by voluntarily reducing demand when an alert is received

 

The County will also need to solicit the cooperation of Departments to:

 
 

Ø

Seek opportunities to convert existing buildings to renewable energy sources.

 

Ø

Substitute fly ash for cement in concrete to the highest practicable amount for a project. Currently DPW has an internal policy to use fly ash concrete, which reduces the need for cement. The process of making cement, which is the common “glue” in concrete, produces 8% of the CO2 and other global greenhouse gases that are produced worldwide.

 

Ø

Educate employees on ways to save energy at work and at home.

 

Ø

Encourage water conservation because of the correlation between water and energy consumption.

 

Ø

Collaborate with and support nonprofits and public agencies that are working to reduce energy use or greenhouse gas emissions.

 

Ø

Provide outreach materials and events that directly promote energy reduction and renewable sources of energy through the County’s RecycleWorks Green Building Program.

 

Ø

Consider new technologies and innovative approaches to reach the proposed goals

 

Ø

Initiate a collaborative Energy Strategy Development Process for the 21 jurisdictions in San Mateo County in conjunction with City County Association of Governments(C/CAG).

 

A resolution has been approved as to form by County Counsel.

 

Next Steps

The Department of Public Works will develop a specific plan and goals for energy reduction that reflects the CO2 emissions reduction goals of the proposed resolution and bring this back to this Board for approval.

 

The RecycleWorks Program in the Department of Public Works will identify ways in which to educate the public and County employees about climate change, energy and water conservation and to incorporate these issues and solutions in greater detail on the RecycleWorks’ website.

 

RecycleWorks, as staff for C/CAG, will bring forward the idea of an Energy Strategy Development Process to C/CAG’s committees for discussion.

 

Fiscal Impact

There is no net cost to the County General Fund in making a commitment to Sustainable Silicon Valley or in adopting the proposed resolution setting goals for reducing CO2 emissions; this is a voluntary project and there is no financial penalty for not achieving our goals.

 

However, there will be costs associated with achieving the goals. The Public Works Department’s plan will evaluate the costs and benefits of any suggested projects including a recommended source of funding, which will be brought back to this Board for our consideration.

 

Attachments

Attached is an excerpt from the Environmental Protection Agency's website on Climate, and a summary of County Energy use for the past five years together with a discussion of environmental issues to be considered when determining goals and strategies.

 

Energy Consumption Discussion of Environmental Issues to be Considered When Determining Goals and Strategies- October, 2005

 

The following is a summary of County energy usage over the past five years and the corresponding CO2 emissions. CO2 emissions are targeted for reduction by the Kyoto Treaty and by the Sustainable Silicon Valley Initiative because they contribute to global warming.

 

YEAR

Electricity (kilowatt hours-kWhs)

CO2 tons

Natural Gas (therms)

CO2 tons

Gasoline (Gallons)

CO2 tons

Diesel (Gallons)

CO2 tons

TOTAL CO2 tons

1999/00

32,321,697

8278.13

1,581,676

9205.35

418,478

4107.36

89,187

938.69

22,529.53

2000/01

32,551,584

7695.23

1,516,534

8826.23

405,122

3976.27

79,320

834.84

21,332.57

2001/02

29,024,745

6861.48

1,473,476

8575.63

401,024

3936.05

85,838

903.44

20,276.60

2002/03

31,363,835

7414.44

1,456,020

8474.04

400,045

3926.44

82,682

870.23

20,685.15

2003/04

33,659,692

9423.03

1,529,406

8901.14

386,589

3794.37

76,665

806.90

22,925.44

2004/05

32,034,244

9954.64

1,522,083

8858.52

383,676

3765.78

71,839

756.11

23,335.05

(Note: The factors that convert natural gas therms and gasoline and diesel gallons to tons of CO2 emission are constant. The conversion factor for kWhs to CO2 tons varies from year to year depending on how clean the process is that generates the electricity.)

Electrical and natural gas usage is fairly consistent and the County has produced a fairly consistent amount of CO2 emissions over the years. The County has been aggressive in implementing electrical and natural gas efficiency projects (lighting, heating and ventilation system retrofits and upgrades). However these savings have been reduced as the square footage of maintained facilities has increased by the reconstruction of the San Mateo County Medical Center and the Crime Lab, and the addition of the Long Term Care Facility in Burlingame.

 

The gasoline and diesel data reflects the amount of fuel dispensed from County pumps, which has been reduced in the six year time period. The average miles per gallon per vehicle has increased with the acquisition of 51 gas-electric hybrid vehicles for the County fleet.

 

There are other environmental issues related to energy consumption to consider when determining goals and strategies.

 

1.

The relationship between water and energy. Water transportation, purification heating and wastewater treatment comprise one of the biggest energy uses in the state. Therefore, water conservation programs are also energy conservation programs. Energy conservation programs also reduce the need for water as the production of electricity and the cooling of energy plants require water.

   

2.

Air quality. The generation of electricity that is used at County facilities may take place outside of the County and therefore the CO2 emissions associated with electrical generation may also take place out of the County. However, the effects of the use of natural gas will have a local impact on air quality gas. Gasoline and diesel usage also affects local air quality. Other CO2 reduction programs such as promoting commute alternatives improve air quality, but these programs are not covered in the above data.

   

3.

Environmental impacts of infrastructure. San Mateo County and San Francisco are in a transmission-constrained area, meaning that there are limited transmission paths to move electricity up the peninsula. With the continuing increase in energy demands on the peninsula, more infrastructure will be needed. This has many environmental implications, including construction, environmental justice, and land use issues.

   

4.

Transportation of Fuel. Emissions from gasoline and diesel use are caused by more than just driving. Impacts on air quality also occur from the transportation of fuel to the stations, storage in distribution centers, and the process of filling the underground tanks at gas stations. Increasing gas mileage per vehicle reduces all of these impacts.

   

5.

Global warming. Whether or not the current federal administration considers global warming to be a concern, Sustainable Silicon Valley, the governor of California and Senator Feinstein understand the impacts of greenhouse gas emissions on the climate. Using CO2 emissions as an overall measurement offers the County a more global perspective in weighing alternatives.

   
 

For instance, the installation of a co-generation system, which switches our energy use from electricity to natural gas, will save money and reduce electricity consumption by heating water that is used in the facility with the waste engine heat. However, the CO2 emissions remain constant except for peak energy usage hours when our local utility depends on the dirtiest options for generating electricity to meet the demand. Installation of a solar array, on the other hand, eliminates CO2 emissions for all electricity generated with the added benefit of producing the most electricity at peak demand times.