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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes_02242 Jefferson County/City of Port Townsend Climate Action Committee Meeting Minutes Wednesday, February 24, 2021, 3:30 - 5:30 PM ONLINE due to COVID Hosted by Jefferson County Public Health Members Present: Pamela Adams (City Council), Kate Chadwick, Dave Wilkinson, David Seabrook, Cindy Jayne, Laura Tucker (Jefferson County Public Health), Shelley Jaye, Diane McDade, John Bender (Jefferson Transit), Jeff Randall (PUD No. 1), Cara Loriz, Kate Dean for Greg Brotherton (BOCC) Absent: Eric Toews (Port of PT), Sam Jones (Port Townsend Paper Corporation), Chris O’Higgins (JHC) Staff: Judy Surber (City of PT), Laura Tucker (Jefferson County) Guests: Eileen Quigley and Aditi Bansal, Holly Hallman, Sherry Dysart Scribe: Judy Surber Topic Recommendation/Action Follow Up Items Call to order Chair Cindy Jayne called the meeting to order at 3:30 PM. A quorum was present. Approval of Agenda & Minutes Chair Cindy Jayne requested amendments/approval of the agenda. Shelley Jaye moved to approve. Second by Pam Adams. Motion passed. Chair asked for approval of December Minutes. Shelley Jaye moved to approve. Second by Dave Seabrook. Motion passed. Laura to finalize December minutes and post to County website. WA State Energy Strategy and GHG Reduction Opportunities for Eilieen’s presentation covered: What is Clean Energy Transition Institute https://www.cleanenergytransition.org/ Jefferson County – Eileen Quigley and Aditi Bansal An independent, nonpartisan Northwest research and analysis nonprofit organization dedicated to accelerating the clean energy transition in the Northwest. WA State WA 2021 State Energy Strategy https://www.commerce.wa.gov/growing-the- economy/energy/2021-state-energy-strategy/ Transforming WA Energy System will require aggressive action needed across all energy sectors. Emission targets are ambitious. The 2030 challenge = 53% reduction Smart Grid system requires regional approach Transportation Challenges and opportunities - 2 basic ways to reduce need for travel; shift travel to more efficient modes. EV infrastructure investment required for rural communities. Clean Electricity Fueling High-Efficiency Buildings Shift from fossil fuels to electric; weatherize and retrofit, reform existing programs, codes and standards, accelerate path to zero- energy buildings Excel in Building a Clean Energy Economy Enable Energy Independence (p 78, 130 of WA Strategy) – including Resiliency Hubs - combine community resilience, emergency management, climate change mitigation, and social equity while providing opportunities for communities to become more self- determining, socially connected, and successful before, during, and after disruptions.) Universal Broadband – to support remote work Decarbonizing Buildings with Equity eileen@cleanenergytransition.org aditi@cleanenergytransition.org Q&A: There is increasing interest and development in carbon sequestration. 5% reliance on bio/geo sequestration is mentioned for achieving net zero emissions by 2050. During the storm, Texas was unable to request help from other utilities because Texas energy is deregulated and not connected to the national grid. WA is not deregulated and is connected to a regional grid. There is a goal to expand the regional grid. Seattle City Light doesn’t anticipate significant snowpack decrease to impact system until late 40’s- 50’s. In addition to regional power grid upgrades, need to develop variety of local fuel alternatives. Rural transit ideas: technology to increase ride-share or coordinate shopping trips. A national approach to a low-carbon fuel standard would be much more effective than state by state. Election of Chair and Vice Chair Vice Chair, Shelley Jaye called for nominations for Chair. Diane McDade nominates Cindy Jayne. There was no further discussion. Motion: Shelley Jaye moved to elect Cindy Jayne as Chair, seconded by Pam Adams. Motion passed. Chair, Cindy Jayne called for nominations for Vice Chair. Pam Adams nominated Diane McDade who declined. Cindy nominated Shelley Jaye, seconded by Pam Adams. There was no further discussion. Motion to appoint Vice Chair Shelley Jay passed. ICLEI Training Update Chair Cindy Jayne referred to her 2/17/21 email which included the 2020_JeffCo_GHG_Reduction_Opportunities_Feb1721 draft document. She noted two minor edits and asked for any comments or questions on the document. Pam Adams moved to approve 2020 GHG Reduction Opportunities document with those corrections second by Jeff Randall. Motion passed. Producing summary of carbon sequestration of Jefferson County forests. Analysis in process, then will draft up report for CAC review.. Kate Chadwick noted Northwest Natural Resource Group as a potential resource if further review is desired. ICLEI membership expires in March. Does the CAC support renewal? It was essential in 2020 for the modeling and ICLEI was very supportive of the work we do in Jefferson County. Cindy will send Judy background files. Judy Surber noted Steve King has approved the City’s share. Kate Dean feels County will approve also. She will coordinate with Greg Brotherton. Cindy Jayne moved to recommend City and County renew ICLEI membership. Second by Kate Chadwick. Motion passed. Cindy encouraged members to participate in upcoming ICLEI trainings. Cindy will coordinate payment with City and County staff, and will send out upcoming ICLEI training opportunities NODC Grant Update and Next Steps Cindy previously provided notes summarizing discussion with agencies on possible ideas to leverage the grant. Steve King and Judy suggested using this grant to prepare project proposals for future funding. City Manager John Mauro contacted Karen Affeld to express City interest in participating in grant. Transit decided they do no have the capacity. Shelley discussed potential next steps to best leverage the grant: • Review the strategies in the 2015 Climate Change Preparedness Plan for Jeff County and City of PT and work with the interested CAC organizations to update the progress made by the organizations, and ID other strategies that are not in work but could be worked on as part of the grant. For the city and county review, that would be followed by an update to the City Council and BOCC with the results, after review at the April CAC meeting. • Local 20/20 tracked status of these strategies by organization through September 2018 in the Climate Adaptation Dashboard. Dave Seabrook: East Jefferson Fire and Rescue would be interested in adaptation for wildfire. Kate will check in with County BOCC. Jeff Randall will check with PUD. Dave Seabrook will connect with Karen Affeld. Upcoming Organizational Plans & Documents for Climate Review? Judy noted both City and County Shoreline Master Program drafts will be released for public review in near future. Jeff: PUD reviewing water and electrical rates. Jeff encouraging conservation and low base rates. Cindy noted a lower per kilowatt hour rate can support switching from fossil fuels to electricity for transportation and heating. Laura: County Public Works – mandated to develop CROP: Contamination reduction organizational plan. Reviews recycling. Public Works analyzing recycling opportunities by carbon footprint of each commodity. She will send draft plan when available. Dave: Jefferson County Hazard Mitigation Plan on track to be updated by May (some discussion on if this was 2021 or 2022.) John: Transit has ongoing surveys. Jeff noted PUD coordination for supplying future electric buses –some preliminary wiring was done at the transit center when constructed. Laura will send draft CROP plan when available. Public Comment None. Other Updates Shelley: Climate and Energy Forum March 10 zoom session with Rep. Kilmer (Senator Cantwell invited). https://www.sustainablebainbridge.org/event/federal- climate-legislation-2021/ Taming Bigfoot: Wrapping up data end of February. About 35 participants. WAClimateAssembly.org - Draft recommendations Kate: US back in Paris Climate Accord. Next Steps and Agenda Planning Next Meeting of April 28; 2021; possible Agenda items: Summary of Adaptation review; Forestry modeling draft report; look at top strategies from first modeling report for transportation, Taming Bigfoot report; State legislative update. Adjourn The meeting was adjourned at 5:35 p.m.