REDUCING GREENHOUSE GAS (GHG) EMISSIONS & SUPPORT

HEALTHY COMMUNITIES: TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM

STRATEGIES

CIVIC ENGAGEMENT AND THE COMING ENERGY AND CLIMATE CRISIS:

SELECT RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE ALACHUA COUNTY ENERGY CONSERVATION

STRATEGIES COMMISSION

May 28, 2009

Penny Wheat, Chair, Alachua County Energy Conservation Strategies CommissionJonathan Paul, Concurrency & Impact Fee Manager Alachua County

Introductions

Overview - Alachua County Energy Conservation Strategies Commission

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Over 204 recommendations exploring: Community Challenges

Rising Energy Costs, Climate Change, Peak Oil Production & Decline

Community Opportunities Create a resource efficient and resilient

community

1. Introductions

Resolution and Mission

“…wants to do its part to reduce or mitigate the effects of Global Climate Change and promote the long-term economic security of its citizens through the implementation of policies that enhance energy efficiency…”

“To draft a comprehensive report on energy use, its relationship to climate change and local socio-economic impacts, including actions that can be implemented by the Board of County Commissioners and the community at large.”

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County Commission Resolution

ECSC Mission

2. Background

Community Membership5

Twelve energy conservation experts“Possess demonstrated expertise and/or advanced training in the areas of energy demand side management, LEED or Green Building Code standards, renewable energy technologies, or a related field.”One representative of the University of FloridaOne former elected Gainesville City CommissionerOne former elected Alachua County

CommissionerOne alternate position

2. Background

Community Membership6

2. Background

ECSC Members from left to right: Bill Shepherd; Erich Christian; Pattie Glenn; Dwight Adams; Chris Fillie; Eduardo Vargas; Harry Kegelmann; Ed Brown; Ruth Steiner; Fred Depenbrock; Penny Wheat

ECSC Guiding Principles7

1. Practice conservation (reduce consumption);

2. make efficiencies in building envelopes and mechanical equipment; and

3. invest in renewable power generation.

2. Background

The ECSC Final Report8

2. Background

http://energy.alachuacounty.us

ECSC Recommendations Categories

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Major Strategic Policies Inviting and Engaging Our Public & Communities Alachua County Government Waste and Energy Implications Maximize Local Food Production and Processing Land Use and Transportation Residential Buildings Innovative Energy Systems and Renewable

Energy Legislative Items

2. Background

Moving from Global Crisis to Local Response: The Community challenges of rising energy costs, climate change, and Peak Oil production and decline

Community Challenges

Community Challenges11

Escalating energy costs for transportation & for buildingsClimate change: global and local“Peak Oil” means not 'running out of oil', but 'running out of cheap oil'. For societies leveraged on ever increasing amounts of cheap oil, the consequences may be dire.” Energy Bulletin: http://www.energybulletin.net/primer.php

3. Community Challenges

Energy & Transportation12

US General Accountability Office Report GAO-07-283: released February, 2007

Crude Oil: Uncertainty about future oil supply

makes it important to develop a strategy for addressing a peak and decline in oil production

Source: http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d07283.pdf

3. Community Challenges

Energy & Transportation

How long can world oil supply expand before reaching a maximum level of production -a peak- from which it can only decline?

  U.S. economy depends heavily on oil,

particularly in the transportation sector.

World oil production has been running at near capacity to meet demand, pushing prices upward.

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United States Oil Imports14

This chart depicts the sources of American oil imports. While the United States gets about 45% of its oil from the Middle East and North Africa, these regions hold over two thirds of the oil reserves worldwide.”

Driving the Future of Energy Security http://lugar.senate.gov/energy/graphs/oilim

port.html

3. Community Challenges

US Oil Production and ConsumptionOverview 1949-2006

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Mill

ion B

arr

els

per

Day

Energy Information Administration; Official Energy Statistics from the US Government

US Consumption 20.59 MB/Day

US Production

Net Imports

3. Community Challenges

US General Accountability OfficeReport - Key Findings

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Peak oil is real.Decline in oil production will occur sometime between February 2007 and 2040.No one is sure of the exact date, because there is a wide variance in the data and methodology used by various research entities.Alternative energy sources, particularly for transportation, are not yet available in large quantities.

3. Community Challenges

US General Accountability OfficeReport - Key Findings

Alternative transportation technologies will take time and effort. Alternative transportation technologies have limited potential to mitigate the consequences of a peak and decline in oil productionThese technologies could displace only the equivalent of 4 percent of projected U.S. annual consumption by 2015.

US General Accountability OfficeReport - Key Findings

Without government policy the United States will be seriously harmed economically.

Federal agencies currently have no coordinated or well-defined strategy

In commenting on a draft of the report, the Departments of Energy and the Interior generally agreed with the report and recommendations.

Vulnerability and Oil Supply19

Vulnerability and Oil Supply20

Bargain Priced Fuel?21

New York Times: Savoring Bargains at the American Pump, June 29, 2008

Climate Change from the Past

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Image from: Statement on Sea Level in the Coming Century; Science Committee Miami-Dade County Climate Change Advisory Task Force

Presented by Dr. Wanless April 22, 2008

3. Community Challenges

Climate Change without Action

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Image from: Statement on Sea Level in the Coming Century; Science Committee Miami-Dade County Climate Change Advisory Task Force

Presented by Dr. Wanless April 22, 2008

3. Community Challenges

1. Invest in weatherization & energy efficiency2. Create employment & new local businesses3. Develop sustainable mobility infrastructure4. Maximize local food production5. Maximize renewable energy production

Community Opportunities

Question and Discussion25

Are current land use and transportation planning rules viable at $4, $5, $6 ….$10/gallon of gasoline?

Transportation Opportunities

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Mobility: Alachua County’s Plan to Effectively Link Land Use and Transportation Compact Centers Mixed Use Design Bus Rapid Transit Dedicated Lanes Bicycle and Pedestrian Network

PUBLIC / PRIVATE

PARTNERSHIP

TOD ButlerPlaza

Urban Village

Beville Creek

UF

Dedicated TransitLanes

PLANNING FOR MOBILITY vs. REGULATING ROAD CAPACITY

Peak Oil and Climate Change Conclusions and Best Advice

1. Develop sustainable mobility infrastructure

2. Invest in weatherization & energy efficiency

3. Create employment & new local businesses

4. Maximize local food production

5. Maximize renewable energy production

Start now Involve and educate your

residents 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)

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Best Policies to create and energy efficient and resource resilient community

Best Advice

6. Conclusions and Best Advice

Alachua County, Florida40

Jonathan Paul, Concurrency & Impact Fee Manager Phone: (352) 374-5249 Email: JBPaul@AlachuaCounty.US Penny Wheat, Chair, Alachua County Energy Conservation Strategies

Commission Phone: (352) 371-2125 Email: penny@gru.net Sean H. McLendon, Sustainability Program Manager Phone: (352) 548-3765 Email: smclendon@alachuacounty.us  

7. Future Steps

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Thank you