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June 24, 2008

Beyond Hybrids and Light bulbs: Best Practices for Climate Change in Alachua County Building a resource efficient and resilient community Land Use, Energy Policy and Transportation. June 24, 2008. Summary. Taking stock Where we are today? Where do we want to be?

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June 24, 2008

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  1. Beyond Hybrids and Light bulbs: Best Practices for Climate Change in Alachua County Building a resource efficient and resilient community Land Use, Energy Policy and Transportation June 24, 2008

  2. Summary • Taking stock • Where we are today? • Where do we want to be? • Beyond low-hanging fruit, best policies and advice • Land Use • Energy Policy • Transportation

  3. Potential capital losses William D. Nordhaus. 2006. The Economics of Hurricanes in the United States. NBER 12813, 47pp. Florida – Ground Zero Miami-Dade County: Nonlinear rise of 3 to 5 ft by 2100.

  4. Alachua County Charter date: 1987 Population : 240,764 Area (sq/miles): 961 County Seat: Gainesville Joined ICLEI CCP: 1999

  5. Alachua County Climate Change Leadership • Green Infrastructure Investment Program • Comprehensive Plan • Alachua County Forever • Land Development Regulations Collaboration • Citizen Advisory Boards • Intergovernmental Partnerships • Intragovernmental Organization

  6. Inventory of Emissions • 1999 County joins ICLEI Cities for Climate Protection – four of five stars by 2007 • Developed greenhouse gas inventory for Alachua County • Establish an emissions target: 20% reduction from 1990 levels by 2010. • Developed and obtained approval for Local Action Plan • Implemented policies and measures • Monitor and verify results (pending star)

  7. Alachua County Carbon Liability Linear projection of total tons of carbon emissions based on 2001 GHG inventory. 1990 base year est to be 2.4 M Tons CO2e

  8. Community-wide Emissions by Source 1998 Alachua County Community Greenhouse Gas Emission Inventory by Source Total Equivalent CO2 Emitted: 2.8 M Tons Source: 2001 Alachua County GHG Inventory

  9. Community-wide Emissions by Segment 1998 Alachua County Community Greenhouse Gas Emission Inventory by Community Segment Total Equivalent CO2 Emitted: 2.8 M Tons Source: 2001 Alachua County GHG Inventory

  10. County Government Emissions 1998 Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Alachua County Government Operations by Source Total Equivalent CO2 Emitted: 17,525 Tons Source: 2001 Alachua County GHG Inventory

  11. Emissions for “business-as-usual” 80% cut in emissions by 2060 Emissions target We need at least 7 wedges (More than 7?) Mitigation - Can we do it? Land Management (Green Infrastructure) William Chameides

  12. Land Use – Green Infrastructure 2000 Alachua County Forever land conservation program approved

  13. Beyond the low hanging fruit • 2002 Integrate ICLEI emissions target of 20% reduction from 1990 levels by 2010 into the Comprehensive Plan • 2006 County updates land use policies to promote infill development and green infrastructure • 2008 Alachua County Forever protects 12,000 acres locking up 40,000 tons CO2 per year. • 2008 NACo Achievement Award; Best in Category Green Infrastructure Investment Program

  14. Alachua County Green Infrastructure from Land Development Projects Approved 69 site plans, 2,038 acres*: • 877 acres of green infrastructure set-aside (43%) • 940 acres of pervious developed areas • 221 acres (11%) of impervious area • 67% tree canopy retained • 540 acres of conservation areas (89% protected) • 321 acres of strategic ecosystems • 151 acres of listed species habitat • 185 acres of wetlands preserved • < 1/20th acre of wetlands impacted * Results from March 2006 – April 2008

  15. Energy Policy 2003 New County Court House built to LEED Silver standard

  16. Beyond the low hanging fruit • 2002 Energy Conservation for County Facilities added to Comprehensive Plan • 2003 Energy Conservation and Resource Reduction Program to conserve and cut energy usage by 1/3 • 2003 Landfill gas to energy project 4,179 tons CO2 Offset per year and 57,120 tons CO2e for methane • 2003 New County Court House built to LEED Silver standard. • 2005 electronic ballasts and CFLs saves $330k and approximately 98 tons of CO2; Energy performance contracting saves $118k

  17. Transportation Hybrids – First Toyota Prius purchased 2000

  18. Beyond the low hanging fruit • 2001 County bus passes for employees • As of 2007 Gainesville RTS 8.9 million passenger trips offsetting 6,150 tons CO2/year • As of 2007 14% of the County cars, trucks or utility vehicles are either hybrid or pure electric • 2008 FloridaWorksGreenRideweb-based carpool matching service • 2008 Bus Rapid Transit integral part of mixed use development, Newberry Village • 2008 MTPO Investigates Peak Oil for long range transportation model – First in the Southeast

  19. Conclusion Best Policies to reduce CO2 Best Advice • Land Use: Value Green Infrastructure; especially wetlands • Energy Policy: Energy conservation for County structures, LEED Standards; Preparing for Peak Oil • Transportation: Multimodal transportation; walk; bike, bus and bus rapid transit • Start now • Ask for help • Involve and educate your citizens • Have land use policies that address climate change • Measure your performance • Be ready for the benefits of coming carbon markets (and your community’s carbon liability)

  20. Resources • Alachua County Website • www.alachuacounty.us • Alachua County Comprehensive Plan • http://growth-management.alachua.fl.us/compplanning/compplanning_index.php • Alachua County Environmental Protection Department • www.environment.alachuacounty.us • Climate change and land use in Florida: Interdependencies and opportunities • http://www.alachuacounty.us/assets/uploads/images/epd/documents/ECSC/Mulkey.pdf • Potential for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy to Meet Florida's Growing Energy Demand • http://www.aceee.org/pubs/e072.htm • Opportunities for Greenhouse Gas Reduction Through Forestry and Agriculture in Florida • http://snre.ufl.edu/research/greenhouse.htm

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