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DISCUSSION OF VOLUNTARY MEASURES TO REDUCE GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS

DISCUSSION OF VOLUNTARY MEASURES TO REDUCE GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS. Fresno Council of Governments November 29, 2007. Purpose/Overview. Get INPUT from local agencies and interested parties Background/Sources of Greenhouse Gases CA Legislation and the Attorney General Proposed measures

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DISCUSSION OF VOLUNTARY MEASURES TO REDUCE GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS

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  1. DISCUSSION OF VOLUNTARY MEASURES TO REDUCE GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS Fresno Council of Governments November 29, 2007

  2. Purpose/Overview • Get INPUT from local agencies and interested parties • Background/Sources of Greenhouse Gases • CA Legislation and the Attorney General • Proposed measures • Next Steps

  3. The Greenhouse Effect Source: U.S. EPA State and Local Climate Change Outreach Kit, March 2000

  4. Human Activities Can Intensify The Greenhouse Effect Transportation Utilities Industry Source: U.S. EPA State and Local Climate Change Outreach Kit, March 2000

  5. Health Air Quality - Respiratory Illness Weather-related Mortality Infectious and Tropical Diseases Agriculture Crop Yields Irrigation Demands Forests Forest Composition Geographic Range of Forests Forest Health and Productivity Water Resources Water Supply Water Quality Competition for Water Coastal Areas Erosion of Beaches Inundation of Coastal Wetlands Additional Costs to Protect Coastal Communities Species and Natural Areas Loss of Habitat and Species Potential Climate Change Impacts Climate Changes Temperature Increase Precipitation Patterns and Extremes SeaLevel Rise Source: Anne Grambsch, 1998

  6. Carbon Intensities for California And Selected States - 1995 GSP indicates Gross State Product Source: Draft Greenhouse Gas Inventory Update, California Energy Commission, 2001

  7. 1999 California Greenhouse Gas Emissions Hydrofluorocarbons 2% Nitrous Oxide 6% • Sources • Carbon Dioxide (CO2) • Fossil fuels, including transportation & electricity • Methane • Fossil fuels • Landfills, agriculture • Nitrous Oxide • Agriculture, cars • Hydrofluorocarbons • Refrigerants, solvents Methane 8% Carbon Dioxide 84% Source: 1997 Global Climate Change, CEC Source: Draft Greenhouse Gas Inventory Update, California Energy Commission, 2001 In CO2 equivalents

  8. Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006(AB 32)

  9. AB 32 in RTPs & General Plans • Comments by Attorney General on Draft EIRs for County General Plans and Regional Transportation Plans (RTPs) • San Bernardino County Settlement with AG over General Plan Challenges • SB 375 and other legislation • CTC Regional Transportation Plan Guideline Recommendations

  10. Meeting with the Attorney General and Fresno COG • Held on September 13th to discuss possible voluntary actions to reduce greenhouse gases • Participants included Fresno COG jurisdictions, Caltrans, BIA, several public groups

  11. Attorney General’s Proposals to Fresno COG • Adopt Climate Action Plan • Education & Outreach Programs • Green Construction Policy in RTP • Allocate Maximum Possible Funds in Future RTPs to Projects That Reduce VMT & Energy Use • Select GHG Projects for 2008 “One Voice” • Convert all Traffic/RR crossing Signals to LED Lighting

  12. Climate Change Plan • Examples • SANDAG • Develop within 3 years • Includes • Inventory • GHG emissions per capita • Enforceable measures to reduce GHGs • San Bernardino • Develop within 30 months

  13. Education/Outreach • Fresno COG website • Transportation Forum • Article in recent newsletter • Workshop sponsorships • Other ideas?

  14. Construction Materials • Use the minimum feasible amount of GHG emitting construction materials (cement, asphalt, etc.); • Use cement blended with the maximum feasible amount of flyash or other materials that reduce GHG emissions from cement production and use; • Use asphalt with light colored additives and chemical additives that increase reflectivity and therefore reduce contribution to the heat island effect; • Require recycling of construction debris to maximum extent feasible

  15. Construction Vehicles • Beginning in 2009, all off-road construction vehicles should be alternative fuel vehicles, or diesel-powered vehicles with Tier 3 or better engines or equivalent retrofits

  16. Funding Priorities • Identify and solicit from local entities new projects that would reduce vehicle miles traveled and/or energy use • Allocate the maximum amount of funding to this type of projects in the next RTP • Identify projects that reduce GHGs for the next One Voice trip

  17. Use of LED Technology • Add Projects to RTP to Convert All Traffic Signals and RR Crossings to LED Lighting • Benefits include: • More efficient • Lower energy use • Longer lifespan • Reduced maintenance costs

  18. Land Use/Landscaping • Blueprint • Include goals, objectives, and performance measures to address greenhouse gases, energy use and VMT reduction • Incorporate planting of shade trees into construction projects where feasible

  19. SANDAG Mitigation Measures • Incorporate state laws on VMT reduction and climate change into future RTPs • Work to increase number of Alternative Fuel Vehicles • Increase number of vanpools • Support Clean Transportation Program • Give preference to alternative formulations of cement and asphalt • Purchase new buses that have lower GHG emissions

  20. ARB Early Action Measures • See handout

  21. Other Measures Being Discussed… • Regional Transportation Plans • Incorporate Blueprint process • Perform GHG analysis, including VMT • Alternative pricing scenarios • Biennial reporting by MPO on GHG progress • Performance measures/reporting • High-density developments that reduce vehicle trips and utilize public transit • Parking spaces for high-occupancy vehicles and car-share programs • Limits on parking

  22. Other Measures Being Discussed (continued)… • Transportation impact fees on developments to fund public transit service • Regional transportation centers where various types of public transportation meet • Energy efficient design for buildings, appliances, lighting and office equipment • Solar panels, water reuse systems and on-site renewable energy production • Methane recovery in landfills and wastewater treatment plants to generate electricity • Carbon emissions credit purchases that fund alternative energy projects

  23. Resources • ICLEI • http://www.iclei.org/ • Cool Cities • http://coolcities.us/ • Pew Center for Global Climate Change • http://www.pewclimate.org • ARB Climate Change Portal • http://climatechange.ca.gov/

  24. NEXT STEPS • Adoption of Greenhouse Gas Measures by Fresno COG Policy Board • Discussion of how to proceed with other SJV Metropolitan Planning Organizations

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