HomeMy WebLinkAbout70-21RESOLUTION 70-21
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
TOWN OF LOS ALTOS HILLS APPROVING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF A
REVISED CLIMATE ACTION PLAN
WHEREAS, climate change is a real and increasingly urgent threat that demands action at every
level of government; and
WHEREAS, the Town of Los Altos Hills joined the U.S. Mayors Climate Protection
Agreement to reduce Greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions through City Council Resolution
45-06 on June 8, 2006; and
WHEREAS, the City Council unanimously voted to join the ICLEI Membership to enact
policies and guidelines to reduce GHG emissions, through the implementation of a Climate
Action Plan (CAP), through City Council Resolution 18-08 on March 13, 2008; and
WHEREAS, the City Council unanimously voted to enact an updated CAP, through City
Council Resolution 92-16 on December 15, 2016; and
WHEREAS, in 2016, the State of California enacted Senate Bill (SB) 32 to require
greenhouse gas emissions to be reduced to 40 percent below 1990 levels by 2030; and
WHEREAS, in 2018, Governor Brown signed Executive Order (EO) B-55-18 which calls
for California to achieve carbon neutrality as soon as possible, and no later than 2045; and
WHEREAS, based upon the latest available data, 46 percent of Los Altos Hill's local
greenhouse gas emissions came from onsite Natural Gas combustion in our homes; and
WHEREAS, the Town gained access to abundant 100% GHG free electricity by joining
the Silicon Valley Clean Energy Authority (SVCEA) through City Council Resolution 1I-
16 passed on January 27, 2016; and
WHEREAS, without significant reductions in Natural Gas combustion within buildings, Los
Altos Hills will not be able to achieve its GHG reduction targets; and
WHEREAS, the City Council has identified electrifying buildings as a necessary strategy
to achieve the Town's GHG reduction targets and tools action to reduce future Natural Gas
emissions by adopting REACH building codes requiring clean electric water and space
heating through Ordinance 589 effective March 19, 2020; and
WHEREAS, onsite Natural Gas combustion is known to lead to elevated levels of harmful
indoor air pollutants, and, according to a study published in the International Journal of
Epidemiology in December 2013, gas cooking increases the risk of asthma in children; and
Resolution 70-21 Page I
WHEREAS, Natural Gas infrastructure and pipelines contribute to the risk of fires and
explosions such as the 2010 San Bruno pipeline explosion, with the risk magnified in cases
of major earthquakes; and
WHEREAS, climate disruption is being fueled by the burning of fossil fuels, including
natural gas, oil, and coal, and the disruption is already having devastating impacts on those
who can least afford it and are least responsible for the problem; and
WHEREAS, a clear end date for Natural Gas empowers building owners and residents to start
malting plans, provides market predictability to encourage service providers to invest in growing
electrification capabilities and workforce development and enables the gas utility PG&E to plan
system work in alignment with local policy; and
WHEREAS, full migration off Natural Gas in Los Altos Hills by 2045 will provide the
impetus for incentives for building electrification retrofits, such that it will be, easier for
existing buildings to become all -electric; and
WHEREAS, on 10/14/2021 the Town's Environmental Initiatives Committee voted to
recommend to the City Council a revised CAP be implemented to, at minimum, meet State
emissions goals established in SB32 and EO B-55-18, attached herein as "Exhibit A" and
"Exhibit B"; and
NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS HEREBY RESOLVED THAT the City Council of the
Town of Los Altos Hills approves implementation of the revised CAP.
The above and foregoing Resolution was passed and adopted by the City Council of the Town of
Los Altos Hills at a regular meeting held on 21 st of October 2021 by the following vote:
AYES: Tanitha, Tyson, Molt, Schmidt, Swan
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
ATTEST:
Deborah L. Padovan, City Clerk
By:
Kavita Tankha, Mayor
Resolution 70-21 Page 2
Exhibit A
Resolution 70-21 Page 3
Why Climate
Adodlon Plan
Time to act is now!
Resolution 70-21
Page 4
Whym
California Targets
Resolution 70-21
Page 5
CUrnate Action Kan— Step 2 & 3 - ICLEI 5 step process
Leadership it completed First loop in 2015
commitment 4
in 2009 Next in 2021
Climate Action Plan Presented by EIC - October 2021
Resolution 70-21 Page 6
Resolution 70-21
Page 7
What?
Resolution 70-21
Page 8
o w?
Resolution 70-21
Page 9
What it includes
Resolution 70-21
Page 10
Climate Action Plan Presented by EIC - October 2021
Resolution 70-21
Page 11
Limited & Slow
Now I Incentives
tions/
man
For a comprehensive
response
Electrification
Replace on burnout ordinance (Menlo Park
Half Moon Bay)
• All -el c reach code covering remodels
(current co s only for new buildings)
• Houses sold ha be electrified within
one year of purchase
• Increased local tax on natu as (e.g.
Utility Users Tax)
• Increased permits/fees on gas applian
Climate Action Plan Presented by EIC - October 2021
Resolution 70-21 Page 12
Resolution 70-21 Page 13
11
.• •1 • . •
Name
Description
Estimated GHG Savings
Battery
Install Storage to match PV Production to Town
Minimal, but demonstrates critical new technologies.
Storage
Hall loads
Town Hall
Convert the natural gas loads at town hall to
32 MT reduction (17% below BAU)
Electrification
electric
V2G
Town Vehicle To Grid for resiliency pilot
Minimal, but demonstrates critical new technologies.
Green Fleet Program with "EV First"
Green Fleet
13 MT reduction (7% below BAU)
commitment
EV Charging
Free EV charging for town staff
19 MT reduction (10% below BAU)
Renewable
Town Government and Fire District shift to
54 MT reduction (29% below BAU)
Diesel
renewable diesel
Cumaie /Acuon Pian Presented Dy tit, - uctooer 2021
Resolution 70-21 Page 14
12
• For residents: NUDGE
o A combination of measures to maximize savings
■ Assist with migration off natural gas
■ Educate
• on emissions (e.g. air travel) and solutions
• available technologies and funding sources to
help with the migration
m Provide firm longterm guidance to nudge laggards
For Foothill, SVCE and PG&E: COLLABORATE
o Encourage policies& programs for electrification
Climate Action Plan Presented by EIC -October 2021
Resolution 70-21 Page 15
13
�Ta U: �rt: &-I t I
Name
Description
Estimated GHC Savings
Town funded walkthrough electrification
High. Reduction of 7,200 MT CO2e in 2030
Assessments
consultant (low cost or free)
(7% below BAU)
Simplify city permitting processes and
Medium. Reduction of 2,500 MT CO2e in
Streamline
reduce fees for electrification conversions
2030 (3% below BAU)
Join in promoting the "BE Smart" program
Small. Reduction of 1,200 MT CO2e in
Financing
(tariff on -bill financing) to SVCE
2030 (1% below BAU)
Provide incentives & programs to eliminate
High. Reduction of 9,500 MT CO2e in 2030
Incentives
natural gas use in buildings by 2045
(9% below BAU)
Climate Action Plan Presented by EIC - October 2021
Resolution 70-21 Page 16
14
2045 • 2031 to 2045:
o Develop plans for electrifying the toughest cases
o Accelerate work with PG&E on branch pruning opportunities
o Assess remaining GHG emissions to get to net zero
Climate Action Plan Presented by EIC -October 2021
Resolution 70-21 Page 17
15
49% reduction in GHG -Community Cost $820K over 10 years
$300,000
$200,000
$100,000
0
Renewable Diesel
0
EV Charging
EM
Green Fleet
0
V2G
M
Town Hall
0
Battery Storage
0
Incentives
M
Financing
N
Streamline
N
Assessments
16
Resolution 70-21 Page 18
52% reduction in GHG -Community Cost $1.2M over 10 years
$300,000
$200,000
$100,000
(tn
41P rp ,r� fV r�
e< << << <1
IM
Renewable Diesel
■
EV Charging
EE1
Green Fleet
0
V2G
M
Town Hall
N
Battery Storage
N
Incentives
N
Financing
0
Streamline
M
Assessments
17
Resolution 70-21 Page 19
.••
!Ki
w
N
0
U
H
200
Government BAU
— — 2030 CA Goal Government CAP
2010 2015 2020
Climate Action Plan Presented by EIC - October 2021
2025 2030
Resolution 70-21 Page 20
ss
CAP Projections: Community
Community BAU --w 2030 CA Goal — Community Moderate CAP
Community Aggressive CAP
125000
100000
I
U-1 75000
0.,
F- 50000
i
25000
j
0 I I
2005 2010 2015 2020 2025 2030
Climate Action Plan Presented by EIC - October 2021
Resolution 70-21 Page 21
19
SF (2035)
Menlo Park (2030)
Palo Alto (2030) M INS IN
SF (2030)
LAH: Aggressive (2030)
LAH: Moderate (2030)
Mountain View (2030)
Climate Action Plan Presented by EIC -October 2021
Resolution 70-21 Page 22
20
ZMEMPS"A
Resolution 70-21
Page 23
Resolution 70-21 Page 24
Snow making equipment fighting Tahoe fires
Climate Action Plan Presented by EIC -October 2021
Resolution 70-21 Page 25
23
Resolution 70-21 Page 26
Measure Cost by Year (4g% option)
Assessments
$0
$11,100
$22,200
$33,300
$44,400
$55,500
$66,600
$77,700
$88,800
$100,000
$500,001
Streamline
$0
$1,100
$2,200
$3,300
$4,400
$5,500
$6,600
$7,700
$8,800
$10,000
$50,001
Financing
$0
$(
Incentives
$0
$5,600
$11,200
$16,800
$22,400
$28,000
$33,600
$39,200
$44,800
$50,000
$250,00(
Battery Storage
$0
$(
Town Hall
Electrification
$10,000
$20,000
$20,000
$50,00(
V2G
$0
$10,000
$10,00(
Green Fleet
$4,000
$3,200
$2,800
$2,400
$2,000
$1,600
$1,200
$800
$400
$0
$20,001
EV Charging
$0
$1,100
$2,200
$3,300
$4,400
$5,500
$6,600
$7,700
$8,800
$10,000
$50,001
Renewable
Diesel
$0
$400
$800
$1,200
$1,600
$2,000
$2,400
$2,800
$3,200
$4,000
$20,001
Resolution 70-21 Page 27
Community Measure costs for Aggressive
case (52% reduction by 2030)
Assessments $0 $11,100 $22,200 $33,300 $44,400 $55,500, $66,600 $77,700 $88,800 $100,000 $500,000
Streamline $0 $1,100 $2,200 $3,300 $4,400 $5,500 $6,600 $7,700 '$8,800 $10,000 $50,000
Financing $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0 $0
Incentives $0 $14,400 $28,800 $43,200 $57,600 $72,000 $86,400 $100,800 $115,200 $130,000 $650,000
$1,200,000
Climate Action Plan Presented by EIC - October 2021
Resolution 70-21 Page 28
26
Alternate visualization of Gov't Ops targets
BAU 100 base 2030 CA Goal Government CAP
200
------ --.__--i-- — —-
150
D I
Q
m 100
0
0
.N I
E i
50
0 I I
2020 2022 2024 2026 2028 2030
Climate Action Plan Presented by FIC - Uctober 2U21
Resolution 70-21 Page 29
27
Alternate visualization of Community targets
125
a
100
0
4
m 75
N
C
O
N
N
E 50
c
E
0 25
U
0
Community BAU — — 2030 CA Goal Moderate CAP — Aggressive GAP
2020 2022 2024 2026 2028 2030
Climate Action Plan Presented by EIC - October 2021
Resolution 70-21 Page 30
28
CAP Projections: Community (-air travel
29
V11111d LCHL.LIU11i'Idll PICbCIILCUUYCI%_-VL.LUUCI LUG.L
Resolution 70-21 Page 31
GHG (-air)
2030 CA Goal (-air) — Community
Moderate CAP
Community Aggressive CAP
100000
75000
LU
0
i
50000
1
___--
__ -- _____ ____
-
25000
0
2005
2010 2015 2020
2025 2030
29
V11111d LCHL.LIU11i'Idll PICbCIILCUUYCI%_-VL.LUUCI LUG.L
Resolution 70-21 Page 31
Alternate visualization of Community targets
Community BAU, 2030 CA Goal (-air), Moderate CAP and
Aggressive CAP
126
100
75
50
25
— Community BALI — Moderate CAP — Aggressive CAP — — 2030 CA Goal (-air)
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
0i t
2020
2022 2024 2026 2028 2030 30
Resolution 70-21 Page 32
Exhibit B
Los Altos Hills Environmental Initiatives Committee
2021 CAP Subcommittee
2021 CAP Measure Descriptions
This document describes the measures in the LAH 2021 Climate Action Plan.
The Los Altos Hills Environmental Initiatives Committee (EIC) is recommending that the town
adopt CAP targets of reducing our town's emissions by 49% below 2005 levels by 2030. Council
may also approve a more aggressive option that would increase reductions to 52%.
Our target recommendation comes from the Greenhouse Gas Inventory that was completed by
the town -appointed contractors in 2020.
EIC expects that if the town continues Business As Usual, town emissions will be 36% below
2005 levels, below state mandates and IPCC recommendations. As a town we should do our part
to reduce global warming.
We outline nine measures that we believe are cheap, easy and will get us to the goal. The
measures that we are recommending come in two sets: Four town -wide measures and Six
measures for municipal operations.
l
1. Reduce town -wide emissions 49% (or 52% -- see measure 4) below 2005 levels by 2030.
2. Reduce municipal emissions 88% below 2005 levels by 2030.
To put this in context, California law requires that the state reduce its greenhouse gas emissions
to 40% below 1990 levels by 2030 (equivalent to 49% below 2005 levels). Our neighboring town
of Palo Alto has a far more aggressive goal of reducing their emissions to 80% below 1990 levels
by 2030. Menlo Park intends to reduce all their emissions to 0 by 2030. San Francisco recently
decided to cut their emissions to 0 by 2035. Our goals are more modest, but take into account
our town's unique features as a small town of limited resources.
Resolution 70-21 Page 33
TOWN -WIDE MEASURES
These four measures apply to the entire town
(1) Assessments: Town funded walkthrough electrification consultant (low
cost or free)
Description
Similar to the HIZ (Home Ignition Zone) wildfire inspections now being discussed, this measure
would subsidize "electrification walkthroughs" by experts, to inform homeowners on their specific
opportunities for electrifying their existing gas appliances. Note this service may be possible to
do virtually, similar to Palo Alto's Home Genie program (run by CLEAResult and described here:
https.//www.citygfpaloalto.org/News-Articles/Utilities/The-Horne-Efficiency-Genie-is-Now-Virtual)
Specific tasks could include:
• Recording the age and expected replacement date for existing gas appliances.
• Identifying problems with the existing gas appliances that could be mitigated with electric
replacements.
• Identifying any home -specific challenges related to electrification.
• Analyzing the home's current heating and cooling systems, in order to identify any
updates needed before electrification.
• Assessing the home's electrical system, and whether panel upgrades would be required.
• Development of a plan for electrification of all natural gas appliances in the home.
Analysis
• Our BAU analysis indicates that heat pump water heaters (HPWHs) and heat pump space
conditioners (HPSCs) will achieve 22.5% penetration in LAH homes by 2030. This implies
a total of 675 homes will use heat pumps for heating and cooling by 2030.
• We estimate successful implementation of this measure will increase that penetration by
13% (to 35.8%) by 2030, resulting in an additional 400 homes electrified.
• This would decrease our GHG emissions in the residential natural gas sector from 32,210
to 27,617 MT CO2e in 2030, a savings of 4,593 MT CO2e.
• Estimated cost of $500,000 between 2021 and 2030. Costs will start at zero and are
expected to increase until 2030. Using an estimated total measure cost of $100,000 in
2030, this measure would result in a cost of $22 per MT of CO2e eliminated.
• See Scenario #3 in the "HP Forecast" sheet of the attached "LAH CAP" spreadsheet for
details.
Resolution 70-21 Page 34
(2) Streamline: Simplify city permitting processes and reduce permit fee
for electrification conversions
Description
The town has adopted an ordinance requiring electric (heat pump) space and water heating in
new construction to reduce GHG emissions from natural gas combustion. However, existing
homes presently represent the vast majority of such emissions. The goal of this measure is to
facilitate conversion of space and water heating devices from natural gas to electric (heat pump).
Per the town's July 6, 2020 Building Department Fee Schedule
(https://www.losaltoshills.ca.gov/DocumentCenter/View/3611/Fee-Schedule---Building-
PDF?bidld=), a like -for -like furnace or water heater replacement requires an $82 building permit.
An electrification conversion almost certainly involves both plumbing and electrical work, and
would require a MEP (mechanical, electrical, and plumbing) permit with a base fee of $180 plus
0.9% of the project cost. It is not clear if separate permits are required for the plumbing work and
the electrical work.
This measure proposes a new "electrification conversion" permit for furnace and/or water heater
replacement from natural gas to electric. This permit would affirmatively include both plumbing
and electrical work associated with the project, simplifying the process for the applicant. The
permit fee would be fixed at, say, the $180 base MEP permit fee, with no project value escalator,
to avoid creating an additional barrier for complex projects.
Analysis
• We estimate a heat pump water heater (HPWH) conversion to save 1.9 MT CO2e/year in
GHG emissions and a heat pump space conditioner (HPSC) conversion to save 3.5 MT
CO2e/year in GHG emissions (these involve some assumptions for usage, efficiency, etc.).
• Every 10% of LAH homes that complete both conversions represents 1,620 MT CO2e/year
in reduced GHG emissions (based on 300 homes).
• These conversions have a high up -front cost. We estimate a HPWH conversion to cost
$2,500 and a HPSC conversion to cost $13,000. If a main panel upgrade is required this
could be an additional $5,000.
o Incremental conversion costs relative to a like -for -like replacement are much
lower and pay for themselves in energy savings in a few years
o Value -based permit fees are based on the upfront cost. These would represent a
small but real disincentive for these conversions
Resolution 70-21 Page 35
(3) Financing: Join in promoting the "SE Smart" program (tariff on -bill
financing) to SVCE
Description
The town has adopted an ordinance requiring electric (heat pump) space and water heating in
new construction to reduce GHG emissions from natural gas combustion. However, existing
homes presently represent the vast majority of such emissions. The goal of this measure is to
facilitate conversion of space and water heating devices from natural gas to electric (heat pump).
An electrification conversion almost certainly involves both plumbing and electrical work. In some
instances the new load will require an upgrade to the home's main electrical panel. So
incremental costs relative to a like -for -like natural gas device replacement can run into the
thousands of dollars. Even though these incremental costs pay for themselves through energy
savings in a few years, they represent a significant barrier to such conversions.
Carbon Free Palo Alto (CFPA) takes the position that it is unrealistic to cover these costs with
rebates. They propose what is called tariffed on -bill financing (TOB). The electricity retailer or
utility uses its access to low-cost, long-term capital to finance the up -front cost of the
electrification conversion, and the customer pays off the financing as an additional tariff on their
bill (that is, not personal debt) over the lifetime of the device. Possibly the tariff can be applied to
the new customer if the home changes hands. CFPA says this approach has been shown to have
very high adoption rates when applied to energy efficiency upgrades. See:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/lsFzdJTbf2LvkbbupuCuCcwpGXxxfFvBYvV5WWQMOp90/
edit
The Town of Los Altos Hills is a participant in Silicon Valley Clean Energy in large part to facilitate
such utility programs for its residents.
This measure proposes that the town use its influence through the SVCE board to make the
establishment of TOB financing for SVCE customers a priority, to facilitate electrification
conversions in the immediate term, such as being enabled by GoodLeap com. For our goals we
need this in place basically right away. We believe our residents will be much more open to
electrification conversions if they are told that there is no incremental cost that must be paid
upfront, even if in the end they choose not to use this financing.
Analysis
• We estimate a heat pump water heater (HPWH) conversion to save 1.9 MT CO2e/year in
GHG emissions and a heat pump space conditioner (HPSC) conversion to save 3.5 MT
CO2e/year in GHG emissions (these involve some assumptions for usage, efficiency, etc.).
• Every 10% of LAH homes that complete both conversions represents 1,620 MT CO2e/year
in reduced GHG emissions (based on 300 homes).
Resolution 70-21 Page 36
• These conversions have higher costs than like -for -like natural gas device replacements.
We estimate a HPWH conversion to cost an incremental $1,000 and a HPSC conversion
to cost $1,200. If a main panel upgrade is required this could be an additional $5,000.
• These incremental costs represent a significant disincentive for these conversions, so
access to low- or zero -interest loans would help reduce barriers, whether or not the loans
were actually used..
4 Incentives: Provide path to eliminate natural gas use in buildings by
E045
Description
LAH Council will adopt a resolution to phase out all natural gas use in LAH by 2045, sending a
clear signal to residents that our town has embraced electrification to take full advantage of
SVCE's clean electricity. Examples of similar forward looking mandates cover _gasoline cars in
California by 2035, .gas boilers in the UK by 2025, and the 2010 SmartRegs in Boulder to make
rental properties more efficient). The Council will direct Staff and the EIC to design and
implement a number of low-cost policies over the coming years to assist all residents achieve this
goal as quickly and efficiently as possible.,
Precedence: Related forward-looking policies:
• 2020 ban on gasoline cars in California by 2035
• Ban on gas boilers in the UK by 2025
• The 2010 SmartRe sg in Boulder mandating efficient rental properties by 2018
• Oakland's 2020 CAP includes getting off natural gas by 2040
• Half Moon Bay's draft ordinance targets capping all natural gas lines by 2045.
Policies to be considered by Staff and EIC could include:
• Town -wide education webinars on electrification, with local examples
• Award additional development area (500 sf?) to all -electric homes
• Offer incremental incentives on heat pumps, induction cooktops, dryers, and other
electric devices (supplementing similar incentives from SVCS, BayREN and others)
• Organize volume discounts offered by local electrification contractors
• Help identify homes that are most appropriate for electrification early, deferring more
challenging cases as technologies improve
• Recommend electrification tools & services (both online and in-home)
• Consider electrification requirements at time of sale
• Adopt ordinance requiring that no later than January 1, 2045, all buildings within the town
shall be converted to All -Electric Buildings and all Fuel Gas plumbing lines shall be
capped and/or decommissioned
• Establish procedures for conversion of remaining buildings no later than January 1, 2044
• Prohibit reconnection to gas service, once a home is fully electrified, allowing PG&E to
Resolution 70-21 Page 37
promote neighborhood branch pruning
• Adopt "Replace on Burnout" ordinance for gas appliances, if adopted by other local cities
Analysis
• Our BAU analysis indicates that heat pump water heaters (HPWHs) and heat pump space
conditioners (HPSCs) will achieve 22.5% penetration in LAH homes by 2030. This implies
a total of 675 homes will use heat pumps for heating and cooling by 2030.
• We estimate successful implementation of this measure would increase that penetration
to 42.5% by 2030, resulting in an additional 600 homes electrified.
• This would decrease our GHG emissions in the residential natural gas sector from 32,210
to 25,340 MT CO2e in 2030, a savings of 6,870 MT CO2e.
• Estimated cost of $250,000 between 2021 and 2030. Costs will start at zero and are
expected to increase linearly until 2030. Using an estimated total measure cost of
$50,000 in 2030, this measure would result in a cost of $7.28 per MT of CO2e
eliminated.
• This is the only measure that would change as a result of the council selecting the
more "aggressive" option of 52% reductions. If selected, the figures above would
change as follows:
o From 42.5% penetration to 50.9% (from 600 homes to 850 homes)
o Savings would increase from 6,870 to 9,800 MT CO2e
o Total cost would increase from $250,000 to $650,000.($130,000 spent in 2030.)
o Cost per MT of CO2e would increase from $7.28 to $13.27.
• See Scenario #2 (recommended) or #9 (aggressive) in the "HP Forecast" sheet of the
attached "LAH CAP" spreadsheet for details.
Resolution 70-21 Page 38
MEASURES FOR MUNICIPAL
OPERATIONS
These five measures apply to Town Hall, Town Staff, and other Municipal Operations only.
(a) Battery Storage: Install storage to match PV production to Town Hall
loads
Description
Town Hall produces solar energy from its 50 (?) kW PV system. The surplus solar energy
produced during the day is fed into the Grid. Given the degree of curtailment of solar in the state
of CA, it is quite likely that the surplus solar energy from Town Hall is not helpful to balancing the
grid.
Town Hall should update its PV Solar system by combining it with a Battery Storage system so
that the excess `clean' solar energy can be stored for use later in the day when the Town Hall's
load will otherwise draw on `dirty' energy that is delivered through the Grid.
Analysis
• Town Hall consumed 103 MWh of electricity in 2018; 67 MWh came from the Town Hall PV
and 37 additional MWh was grid electricity provided by SVCE
• Need data to understand Rated capacity of current PV system and the split between
Daytime and Nighttime loads in Town Hall to size the storage requirement for night loads
• The Town Hall is implementing a resiliency solution using storage for back-up purposes;
storage should be sized instead to support ongoing night load in additions to supporting
emergency back-up needs; daytime load can be supported primarily by SVCE which
ensures that the energy sources are clean
• If Town Hall put together an integrated solution for sustaining its entire load with clean
energy using PV and Storage, it will serve as a useful model for LAH residents to replicate
the design and results; LAH already has one of the highest adoption rates in CA for
rooftop PV and integrating storage would represent an upgrade that the residents will
gladly pursue.
(b) Town Hall Electrification: Convert the natural gas loads at town hall to
electric
Description
Town Hall has continued to depend on natural gas burners for water heating and space heating.
With a view to inspiring total electrification of the town, the town must first show that it can
eliminate the need for gas powered appliances within our town's own facilities, including Town
Hall. Additionally, when Town Hall converts its load to be all -electric, it can demonstrate that the
Resolution 70-21 Page 39
gas supply to Town Hall could be permanently turned off and thus obviate the need for
expensive gas pipe maintenance.
Analysis
1. In 2018, the last year for which it was estimated, Natural gas usage by Town Hall was
2,332 Therms and that equates to over 29,000 lbs of equivalent CO2 emissions
2. While the details of the load profile driving the natural gas load are yet to be determined,
it seems safe to assume that switching the gas furnaces for space and water heating with
Electric Heat Pump alternatives would potentially eliminate the entire GHG emissions
resulting in a further 4.5% contribution towards CAP goals for GHG reduction
3. Elimination of gas appliances and upgrading to their electrical equivalents is not merely
an environmentally cleaner choice but can also be cost effective (E3 report here; see
page 49)
4. The knowledge base developed through Town Hall electrification can be used to educate
the residents and provide them the contacts with contractors that can be helpful in their
pursuit of electrification of their own homes - greater and quicker adoption of
electrification and renunciation of natural gas can create the economies of scale and thus
power a virtuous cycle of total electrification
5. An additional long term benefit of total electrification of the Town Hall load is that the gas
line serving the Town Hall can be capped off thus pre-empting expensive and impending
maintenance
6. Finally, it would send a clear message to town that we are serious about getting
Government -driven CO2 emissions down to zero.
Description
Town designs and installs a V2G system at town hall. Town already owns one battery electric
vehicle. Included elsewhere among the recommendations is that town always purchase an
electric vehicle where such an option is available. The effect of these will be that town will have
substantial energy stored in its vehicles when they are charged (almost certainly by the town's
solar array). This gives the town the ability to smooth the load on the grid by drawing stored
energy from its vehicles. It will also provide resiliency in case of a power outage.
V2G technology is developing quickly these days. Nissan vehicles already have the ability to
power the grid. The upcoming electric Ford F-150 will also support bi-directional charging. Tesla
is believed to be developing such technology for its vehicles also.
Analysis
The V2G would not save much in terms of CO2. There are two small sources of savings:
Resolution 70-21 Page 40
• To the extent that it will replace electricity consumption during hours when clean
electricity is unavailable on the grid.
• In case of a power outage, it would make the (carbon -powered) generator a stand-by
option to the battery.
More importantly, however, just as the solar panels next to town hall set a great example for town
residents on moving to PV, a V2G grid would set a great example on the next frontier. Town
residents are already leading the world in conversion to electric vehicles. We can also lead the
world in V2G installations. LAH town government should lead the way.
Cost might be around $10,000 beyond the cost of a V2G-capable EV, like the Ford F150.
(d) Green Fleets Green fleet program with "EV First" commitment
Description
Consistent with the direction pursued by the Federal and State Governments, Los Altos Hills
should pursue the complete electrification of its fleet of vehicles. It may not be economically
feasible in the short term to replace perfectly serviceable vehicles in the fleet with EVs. In some
instances the EV is not even available to perform the functions required of its gas / diesel
powered counterpart.
This recommendation suggests that the Town Hall should emphatically adopt the policy to
convert its fleet to electric and as such should consider the EV alternative first, when replacing an
existing vehicle or acquiring a new vehicle. The recommendation also says that the EV alternative
for replacing a gas vehicle may be more expensive in the near term but should be preferred if the
cost differential can be offset by the benefits of reduced GHG and attainment of CAP goals.
Analysis
• Town Hall currently owns one EV out of a fleet of 20 vehicles 7 of which are powered by
gasoline and 12 by diesel
• The estimated GHG emission is 24 MT CO2e in 2018, the last year for which it was
estimated. This represents a 29% reduction in GHG from the baseline of 2005 (34 MT)
and is at 97% towards accomplishing the target for GHG reduction by 2025 of 30% set in
2015
• However, the fleet is quite old - the typical age of a fleet vehicle is 15 years - and it would
suggest that given the general life expectancy of a vehicle, most of these 19 vehicles will
be coming up for replacement within 2 - 5 years
• A token deposit of $100 ea for a few Ford Electric trucks to replace the existing gasoline
Ford trucks may be a good way to initiate this process at a relatively low up -front cost
• Finally, it sets a great example to all the residents and other towns in the Valley.
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(e) EV Charging: Free EV charging for town staff
Description
Town provides free EV charging for town staff to charge their vehicles while they are at work in
town hall. Employee commutes contributed 39 metric tons of CO2 in 2018. This is 13% of our
Government's Carbon footprint.
Town staff commute a long distance to work, on average 26 miles a day, 7 of them 40 or more
miles every day (per 2018 inventory). With increasing gas prices, providing staff with free
charging would be a great incentive that encourages them to switch to electric vehicles.
Analysis
• Eliminating CO2 from employee commutes would cut 13% of the town government's
carbon footprint.
® Town staff commutes consumed over 4,000 gallons of gasoline in 2018. Providing free
charging would provide a benefit of at least $16,000 to town staff, quite a bit more since
there might be other errands that they run during their commutes.
• The 125,000 total miles traveled annually by town staff during their commutes would use
about 50,000 kWh of electricity. This represents an annual cost of about $10,000 to town.
• . If town were to build a V2G system at town hall, all the electric vehicles owned by town
staff would be a part of it thus strengthening the town hall V2G.
® This would send a clear message to town that we are serious about getting Government -
driven CO2 emissions down to 0.
® Finally, it sets a great example to all other employers, including other towns in the Valley.
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TORN
Description
Biodiesel is a drop-in replacement for conventional diesel. It is the same chemical, except that it
is manufactured from renewable sources rather than dug out of the ground. It is thus a renewable
resource, and its carbon footprint is about 90% lower than that of conventional diesel. It is slightly
more expensive than conventional diesel, but not overly so. Being chemically identical to diesel it
can be used with no changes to existing equipment, and can also be switched out should an
emergency require us to go back to using conventional diesel.
GreenWaste already uses biodiesel (Propel HPR) in all their trucks that serve Los Altos Hills.
There is no reason for both the town government and the fire district not to immediately switch
over to biodiesel for all the diesel vehicles in their fleet. Town Hall also has a diesel generator on
standby for power outages which should also be switched over to biodiesel.
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Analysis
• Eliminating diesel from the town fleet would cut our municipal CO2 emissions by 3%.
Eliminating diesel from the fire district's fleet would cut our municipal CO2 emissions by a
further 27%. Taken together there is a 30% saving available for the taking,
• Town municipal equipment consumed 720 gallons of diesel in 2018, the peak was in 2015
when it consumed 1,135 gallons. At a conservative $0.50 premium per gallon, the financial
impact on the town is in the hundreds of dollars annually.
• Fire district equipment consumed 5,733 gallons of diesel in 2018, the peak was in 2016
when the district consumed 6,180 gallons of diesel. The financial impact on the district
would be in the region of $3,000 annually.
® For an expenditure of less than $4,000 annually, and no upfront capital costs, our town
government can reduce its CO2 emissions by about 30% with immediate effect.
[END]
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