1 / 35

AB 32 and Other Climate Change Drivers

AB 32 and Other Climate Change Drivers. Jay R. Witherspoon jay.witherspoon@ch2m.com.au January 24, 2008 . Climate Change Impacts on POTWs. Reduced flexibility of existing infrastructure to deliver sustainable water supplies

fathi
Download Presentation

AB 32 and Other Climate Change Drivers

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript


  1. AB 32 and Other Climate Change Drivers Jay R. Witherspoon jay.witherspoon@ch2m.com.au January 24, 2008

  2. Climate Change Impacts on POTWs • Reduced flexibility of existing infrastructure to deliver sustainable water supplies • Increased vulnerability of existing infrastructure to extreme flooding • Reduced reliability and effectiveness of reservoir storage – as a system management tool & increased reservoir evaporation • Increased reliance on groundwater storage during droughts

  3. AB 32 POTWs Impacts • Voluntary Participation • Participated in CCAR before 12/31/06 • Have GHG Reporting Program • 1st Round Mandatory GHG Emissions Reporting • POTWs as a Source Category not included • Most POTWs spared due to low combustion source GHG emissions • Some POTWs with high emitting GHG combustion sources are engaged • Estimated Mandatory Reporting starting in 2009 or 2010

  4. AB 32 Impacts on POTWs • Early Actions • Mandatory Emissions Reporting • Scoping Plan and Emissions Reductions • Cap and Trade Program

  5. Early Actions • Early Actions • Initial 37 reduction strategies (June 2007) • 3 discrete early actions enforceable (January 2010) • None directed specifically at POTW sector • Actions directed at other sectors (e.g., transportation) - will have some impact on POTW operations • Additional Early Actions • ARB evaluating 44 additional reduction strategies • 9 additional discrete early actions (regulatory) • Before Board beginning in 2008 • Voluntary early actions: • Above and beyond regulatory requirements • CARB to ensure “appropriate credit” • Entities must document their emissions reductions

  6. Mandatory Emissions Reporting Initial Phase of Reporting to begin in 2009 • POTWs not identified as a specific sector to report in 2009 • However, POTWs may be required to report their emissions associated with the following: • Power/utility facility (≥1 MW) • Cogeneration facility (≥ 1 MW) • Large stationary combustion source (≥ 25 metric tons CO2)

  7. AB 32 POTWs Impacts • POTWs Process GHG Emissions Sources • CH4 (methane gas) • anaerobic degradation, digestion • N2O • natural by-product of sewage (degradation of urea, nitrate, protein) • intermediate product of nitrification/denitrification • CO2 is Biogenic = net zero impacts

  8. POTW GHG Emissions • CH4 • 6% of all California CH4 emissions (2002) • EPA Inventory, CH4 contribution by wastewater sector: Source: Patrick Griffith/LACSD & US EPA GHG Inventory

  9. POTW GHG Emissions • N2O • 2.7% of all California N2O emissions (2002) • EPA Inventory, N2O contribution by wastewater sector: Source: Patrick Griffith/LACSD & US EPA GHG Inventory

  10. POTW GHG Emissions • CO2 • process emissions considered biogenic • combustion • electricity purchases • Significant CO2 emissions tied to energy use! • 19% of California’s total electricity demand spent on provision of water and wastewater services

  11. My Initial Conclusions • WWTP is not an identified source of CO2 emissions since CO2 emitted began as CO2 in the atmosphere fixed to food production – we are just returning it • Our anthropogenic sources of CH4 and N2O are conservatively estimated (much higher than they actually are) by both methodology and specific assumptions used (IPCC procedures). • Use maximum values • Neglect removal efficiencies (can’t operate at 100%) • Assume facultative systems operate anaerobically • For CH4 – used BOD loadings on per-capita values & can’t reproduce EPA’s numbers??? • For NO2 – used nitrogen discharges on per-capita protein consumption, plus added two factors that increase emissions by 75% - EPA’s numbers are double my calculations

  12. AB 32 POTWs Impacts • POTWs will need GHG Emissions Inventories • Need Emissions Inventory Protocols • Types of Emissions to Report • Direct (Mobile, Direct, Process, Fugitive) • Indirect (Purchase Energy) • Deminimus (Insignificant)

  13. Targeted WWTP Protocol Sources Blue Boxes are California POTWs Focused Sources

  14. AB 32 POTWs Impacts • 2007 - Early Action Reduction Measures • 2008 – 1990 Emissions Inventory – 2020 Emission Limit • 2010 – Early Action Plan & Regulations • 2011 – Scoping Plan • 2012 – Market Based Trading Program

  15. GHG Activities Beyond California

  16. International and National Drivers • Kyoto Protocol • European Union, Emissions Trading Scheme • Increase in US Federal Action and Legislative proposals on climate change mitigation

  17. U.S. State Action GHG Reporting and Registries GHG Emission Targets Climate Action Plans Source: www.pewclimate.org

  18. Regional and State Drivers • RGGI • Regional cap and trade program for 7 Northeast states, initially focusing on emissions from power plants • Western States Initiative • CA, OR, WA, NM, and AZ plan to cut their states' GHG emissions and establish a regional carbon-trading system. • AB 32 • California legislation to reduce the state’s GHG emissions.

  19. U.S. Congressional Interest in Climate Change • 1975: First hearings on global warming occurred • 1989: Dr. James Hansen of NASA testifies before Al Gore’s Senate Committee • 1997: The Byrd-Hagel Resolution passes 95-0 • 1998: “Kyoto” never sent to the Senate for ratification • 2003: First McCain-Lieberman GHG Bill defeated • 2004: The Gilchrest-Olver Climate Stewardship Act is introduced. • 2007: House Speaker Nancy Pelosi sets a June deadline for House committee legislative action and establishes a Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming

  20. Laws & Schedule to Reduce Emissions

  21. Australian GHG Accounts and Reduction Goals • GHG Accounts & Reductions focused on: • Energy • Stationary, Transport, Fugitive • Industrial Processes • Solvent & Other Product Usage • Agriculture • Land Use, Land Use Change & Forestry • Waste • Australia’s share of world GHG emissions was 1.5% in 2005 • Concerns seen in National papers on a daily basis

  22. Australian GHG Accounts and Reduction Goals • GHG Accounts & Reductions focused on: • Energy • Stationary, Transport, Fugitive • Industrial Processes • Agriculture • Land Use, Land Use Change & Forestry • Waste • Australia share of world GHG emissions was 1.5% in 2005

  23. AB 32 Impacts on POTWs • GHG Emission Reductions • Voluntary and Regulatory • Where are reduction currently taking place? • Where can additional reduction come from? • Quantifying Reductions • Cap-and-Trade Program • Receiving Carbon Credits • Marketing Credits

  24. GHG Emission Reduction Opportunities

  25. GHG Emission Reduction Opportunities (cont.)

  26. Relative Distribution in Water Treatment – 10 MGD example Source: Keith Carns/Global Energy Partners

  27. Relative Distribution of Plant Power – 7.5 MGD WWTP Source: Keith Carns/Global Energy Partners

  28. City of Portland , Oregon, USA First American City to Adopt a Local Strategy for Greenhouse Gas Emissions (1993)

  29. Energy Use and Emissions Sources in Portland

  30. City of Portland, Oregon • Transportation dominates GHG emission sources in Portland. Reasons are: • Low population density • Suburban character of the area • Abundance of commuters • Relatively minor presence of heavy industry • Relatively mild climate means transportation energy use is proportionately higher than heating/cooling energy use

  31. Portland, OregonGHG Reduction in Transportation • Reduce auto travel & increase transit use through mixed land use planning • Increase availability of housing in downtown area • Construct more bikeways and bicycle parking • Give transit and carpooling incentives to City employees through Trip Reduction Incentives Program (TRIP) • It has been working...transit use has increased 30% & auto commute trips have been reduced by 20%

  32. Portland, OregonEnergy Efficiency Measures • City government has reduced energy use by 15% since 1990 • Results: City’s capital investment of $4 million creates annual savings of $1.2 million and CO2 reduction of 10,000 tons/year • Customer driven programs such as “Block-by-Block Weatherization” and “Multi-family Energy Saving” created demand reduction of 80 MW (=54,000 homes) • Developed “Businesses for an Environmentally Sustainable Tomorrow (BEST)” and EPA’s “Climate Wise Program”

  33. Assisted by State Policies • Statewide benchmark to hold GHG emissions at 1990 levels. • CO2 emission standard for new energy production facilities of 0.7 lbs CO2 per kWh • Business Energy Tax Credit • Residential Building Code changes to cut energy use in new homes • Transportation Planning Rule to reduce vehicle-miles- traveled by 20% per capita in metro areas in 30 years

  34. Western Climate Initiative • The Western Climate Initiative is a collaboration which was launched in February 2007 to develop regional strategies to address climate change • By the Governors of Arizona, California, New Mexico, Oregon and Washington. • In the spring of 2007, the Governor of Utah and the Premiers of British Columbia and Manitoba joined the Initiative. Other states and provinces have joined as observers. • WCI is identifying, evaluating and implementing collective and cooperative ways to reduce greenhouse gases in the region. • Through WCI, the partners set an overall regional goal in August 2007 for reducing greenhouse gas emissions • The partners have developed a Workplan to guide their work and are seeking public input on the process. • By August 2008 the Partners will also complete the design of a market-based mechanism to help achieve that reduction goal. • Similar to CARB in many ways, but with more aggressive deadlines • CARB is looking to align their efforts with WCI while still meeting their own goals

  35. Recommendations for POTWs • Develop a GHG Inventory Early • Use existing protocols for now • Refine with CWCCG method • Practice for mandatory reporting which will begin in 2009 • Meet any applicable discrete early action requirements • Develop and implement GHG emissions reduction strategies • Track emissions reductions to receive credit • Follow CARB rule making and communicate with CARB

More Related