GHG Emissions and Carbon Footprint WorkshopTacoma, WASeptember 29, 2009
Developing a GHG Inventory: SPU’s Initial Experience
Paul FlemingManager, Climate & Sustainability GroupSeattle Public [email protected]
Purpose of Briefing
Background on climate change and water Water sector engagement SPU’s experience
Motivation Methodology Data collection Lessons Learned
Climate Change and Water
Climate Change and Water: IPCC Technical Paper VI
Precipitation and runoff variable by location
Supplies based on glaciers and snowpack will decrease
Water quality affected, as well as food production and other processes
Water infrastructure impacted, adaptation options require demand-side and supply-side strategies
Gaps in knowledge with observations and research
“According to many experts, water and its availability and quality will be the main pressure on, and issues for, societies and the environment under climate change.” - IPCC Technical Paper VI
Mitigation and Adaptation
Greenhouse gas (GHG) mitigation can avoid, reduce or delay the impacts of climate change
Some impacts are unavoidable due to past emissions, hence the need for adaptation
Complementary approaches to a comprehensive climate strategy: Mitigation limits the magnitude of
climate change Adaptation limits the impacts of climate
change
“A portfolio of adaptation and mitigation measures can diminish the risks associated with climate change”- Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, 2007
Water Sector Engagement
Water Sector Activity on Climate Change:
AWWA Climate change committee Significant focus on geologic
sequestration issue and groundwater quality
Water Research Foundation Multi-year strategic research initiative:
Objective 2 focused on GHG inventories and footprints
www.theclimatechangeclearinghouse.org Project #4156
WERF Multi-year research focus White paper on adaptation Werf.org
Water Sector Activity on Climate Change:
AMWA Climate change committee Focus on federal legislation http://amwa.net/cs/climatechange
Water Utility Climate Alliance White papers on climate modeling
and decision support systems Focus on:
Adaptation Collaboration with research community Federal legislation and administrative
actions http://www.wucaonline.org/html/
SPU’s Experience
City of Seattle Context
Mayor Nickels’ national leadership: 995 Mayors signed on to Climate
Protection Agreement
Seattle’s Climate Action Plan Major depts to develop GHG reduction
targets and action plans
Seattle City Light Leadership on mitigation 2005: first major US electric utility to
achieve “no net emissions” Member of CA Climate Action Registry
(CCAR)
SPU’s Motivation
Support Seattle’s Climate Action Plan Develop understanding of our emissions Complement our focus on adaptation
Methods for Calculating a GHG Inventory
Similar, overlapping methods: World Resources Institute Dept. of Energy 1605b program ICLEI CCAR
CCAR: Same method as City Light Met of So. CA, LADWP members Easy to use online tool – CARROT Method for verification Forerunner for national registry, The
Climate Registry
SPU’s Context
Three lines of businesses: Water Drainage and wastewater Solid waste
Three sources of power and three emissions factors: SCL (electric) PSE (electric) PSE (thermal)
Collected data for ’06 – ’08 “Dry run” for ‘06 inventory Plan to verify ‘08 inventory
SPU’s Experience: Data Collection
Classic disconnect: Energy user and energy bill payer
Accounts Payable collected energy data: Labor intensive Not available electronically More than 300 line items
Aggregated data into asset types, e.g.: Treatment facilities Fleets Pump stations
SPU’s Experience: Outstanding Questions
Methane at historic landfills: Optional Ownership issues Methodology issues
Airline travel Optional
Handling treatment facilities: Owned by SPU, operated by outside parties Billed by PSE, supplied by SCL
Using #4156 architecture Extend to drainage/wastewater and solid waste?
SPU’s Experience: Lessons Learned/Next Steps
Lessons Learned: Data collection and management challenge Need for dedicated staff time Methodology issues
Next Steps: Finalize and verify ‘08 inventory Establish baseline Establish reduction targets
Future policy questions: Climate neutral? Incorporate into asset management framework?
Options for Utilities
Calculate GHG inventory for internal purposes: Purely informational or mechanism to track and/or
reduce emissions
Calculate GHG inventory, certify and report it: Same as above, but with higher profile, issues of
public expectations
Develop carbon management strategy: More holistic approach, inclusion of CO2 implications
for CIP and programmatic decisions
Thank You