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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2015-09-02 CEAP PACKET AD-HOC CLIMATE ACTION AND ENERGY PLAN COMMITTEE Meeting Agenda September 2, 2015 – 6:00 PM Community Development Building, Siskiyou Room 51 Winburn Way 1. Call to Order 2. Introductions 3. Meeting Format and Schedule • Chair – Duties/Responsibilities • Agenda/Packet Materials • Regular Meeting Schedule – Date/times/frequency 4. Committee Charge/Scope of Work • Review/Discuss Council Approved Committee Scope/Charge 5. Conservation Commission Proposed Project Plan Elements and Process • Review of prior work & Council direction • Consultant RFP scope of work – Direction to staff 6. Climate Plan Kick Off Event • Review GEOS grant application ($10,000 City grant award) • Key alignment/compatibility issues • Committee involvement in event • Event data/outcomes for Committee use 7. Greenhouse Gas Inventory Project Update 8. Agenda Items for Next Meeting • Review/Recommend final draft consultant scope of work • Kick-off committee requests of Ad-Hoc Committee • ??????? Ad Hoc Committee on Climate Change and Energy Action Plan Scope of Work, August 19, 2015 The ad hoc Climate Change and Energy Action Plan Committee is charged with making recommendations to the City Council regarding a climate change and energy action plan intended to identify existing and potential vulnerabilities and develop an organized and prioritized set of actions to protect people and resources from the ongoing impacts of climate change. The plan shall include targets and strategies for reduction of greenhouse gas emissions in Ashland. These targets and strategies may be short- mid- or long-term, and shall consider cost, feasibility, community acceptance and likelihood of success, with an emphasis on voluntary measures that can be undertaken by different sectors of the community. The plan shall include specific, measurable actions that citizens and local institutions can undertake immediately upon adoption of the plan. The Committee shall review similar plans in comparable communities, consult as necessary with local subject matter experts in the areas of transportation, energy, land use and infrastructure (and other areas as the Committee deems advisable), and identify implementation steps as appropriate. The Committee shall, in consultation with City staff and consultants, determine its own work plan and project timeline, however while the Committee may consult with and advise on its needs for consultant services, City staff shall be the sole point of contact for consultants hired to work on the plan or technical reports associated with the plan. Unless otherwise directed by the City Council, the Climate Change and Energy Action Plan shall be delivered to the City Council by January 31, 2017. The Committee shall, in the course of its work: • Provide ample opportunity for public input and feedback; and • Present its recommendations in writing so they can be easily shared with the public. Page 1 of 3 Council Communication June 2, 2015, Business Meeting Community Climate and Energy Action Plan Ad-Hoc Committee Formation Request FROM Adam Hanks, Management Analyst, Administration – adam@ashland.or.us : At the March 16, 2015 Council study session, the Conservation Commission, through its Climate/Energy sub-committee, presented a plan framework for a community climate action and energy plan. As a stated follow-up task, the Commission is requesting that Council approve the formation of an ad-hoc committee. SUMMARY Approving the creation of this ad-hoc committee is a key initial step in moving the project from concept framework to active plan development and begins the process of seeking interested community members to contact the Mayor for his appointments tentatively scheduled to be announced and confirmed at a future Council meeting in late July or early August. The Conservation Commission has for some time been interested in the City increasing its in the area of sustainability and has spent many years working on both individual sustainability related projects as well as the development and approval of broad policy level sustainability principles for City and community decision making. BACKGROUND AND POLICY IMPLICATIONS: The Commission’s most recent work culminated in a presentation to the Council on March 16, 2015, outlining a process and content framework for a community climate action and energy plan. Along with and central to the Commission’s request to move forward with such a community plan was a funding request to move the plan from concept to reality. Climate Action and Energy Plan (CAEP) – Current Status The funding request of $120,000 over the 2015-17 biennium was approved by the Citizen’s Budget Committee on May 21, 2015. As this funding request moved through its review process, the climate energy sub-committee worked with two local environmental non-profits to submit a grant application for a City Economic, Cultural, Tourism and Sustainability grant. The grant review committee awarded the groups $10,000 of the $28,540 that was requested. As proposed, the grant recipients intend to utilize the $10,000 grant award to organize and manage a significant kick-off event and other supporting efforts to garner support for the plan development process. Additionally, the kick-off is intended to provide a forum to collect names of community members that may be interested and qualified to be among the pool of people for the Mayor’s consideration for appointment to the ad-hoc committee. Page 2 of 3 To provide context for the creation of the ad-hoc committee and the proposed kick-off events, the Commission created a draft CAEP planning schedule. The schedule is intentionally aggressive in order to meet the self imposed one year plan development target. CAEP Project Schedule Staff is in general agreement with the plan schedule with a few exceptions and will work with the Commission and its sub-committee to address several of the identified modifications, such as: • Role of the grant recipients in the plan development; • Timing and use of data collected by grant recipients as part of the initial kick off steps; • Responsible party for the charge and role of the ad-hoc committee (City Administrator is designated by Ashland Municipal Code); and • Role of the Conservation Commission and sub-committee in plan development (possibly resolved by inclusion on the ad-hoc committee). Coordination of roles and tasks associated with the proposed kick-off events will be critical as this will set the tone for much of the plan development. The grant award contract and the RFP for consultant services will need to be aligned and carefully delineated to ensure maximum value of the kick-off event and a smooth transition between the two separate entities. The Ad-Hoc Committee will act as the central hub for the plan development and will be made up of community members who have the time, ability and interest in serving the community over a 9 to 12 month period in developing recommendations from a variety of community sources. The oversight committee will be the official sounding board for staff and consultant plan development efforts and will function as the final recommendation body prior to the final draft plan presentation to Council for adoption. Key committee dates include: Ad-Hoc Committee Timeline and Responsibilities • Approval of Ad-Hoc Committee formation – June 2, 2015 • Establishment of committee scope of work – July 2015 • Committee member appointments – August 4, 2015 • First Committee meeting – September 2015 • Meeting Schedule – One to two meetings per month • Draft plan presentation to Council – July 2016 AMC 2.04.090 B. Ad-hoc Committee Municipal Code Reference The Mayor shall have the authority, with the consent of the Council, to form ad-hoc committees or task forces to deal with specific tasks within specific time frames. Such ad hoc committees shall abide by uniform rules and procedures set forth in AMC 2.10 and such other rules as prescribed by the order establishing such ad hoc entities. Committees shall make recommendations by way of a formal report to the City Council. The Mayor or City Administrator may refer matters to the appropriate ad hoc committee. The Mayor with the consent of the Council shall appoint the membership of such committees. Members of Regular Boards and Commissions may be appointed to ad hoc committees. The City Administrator shall by order establish the ad hoc body’s scope of the work and rules of Page 3 of 3 procedure, if necessary. The Council has the authority to follow the recommendations, change the recommendations, take no action, remand the matter back to the ad hoc body or take any other action it sees fit. The Council by majority vote may remove a member of an ad hoc committee at any time, with or without cause. The City Council by majority vote may amend or dissolve an ad hoc committee. COUNCIL GOALS SUPPORTED: 22. Prepare for the impact of climate change on the community Energy and Infrastructure 22.1 – Develop and implement a community climate change and energy plan The approved BN 2015-17 budget includes $120,000 for the use of contract employment, consultant or staff work depending on need as the plan development moves forward. FISCAL IMPLICATIONS: Additionally, the Budget Committee recommended a grant award to the GEOS Institute of $10,000 for a proposed community kick-off event for the plan. Plan development will also require varying levels of staff time commitment from multiple City departments including Administration, Public Works, Electric and Community Development. Staff recommends the formation of a Climate Action & Energy Plan Oversight Committee to allow adequate time to generate community interest in serving on the committee for appointment by the Mayor in August. Having a committee in place and ready to act by early September is critical in maintaining the schedule and meeting the final plan presentation date of July 2016. STAFF RECOMMENDATION AND REQUESTED ACTION: I move to authorize Mayor Stromberg to form an ad hoc Climate Action & Energy Plan Oversight Committee. SUGGESTED MOTION: 1) Conservation Commission Proposed CAEP Planning Schedule ATTACHMENTS: 2) Community Climate and Energy Action Plan Study Session Packet – March 16, 2015 3) GEOS Institute City of Ashland 2015 Grant Application 4) March 16, 2015 Council Study Session Minutes Ashland Community Climate Energy Action Planning Schedule Draft 5/22/15 Orange=Conservation Commission (CC), Red=Geos Institute and Rogue Climate (GIRC), Blue=Oversight Committee (OC), Turquoise=Contractor (CON), Purple=Climate and Energy Subcommittee (SC), Green=City Staff or Council Step #Description Responsible Party Apr May May June June July July Aug Aug Sep Sep Oct prelim Bring next steps to CC for vote SC 27-May prelim City Coucil agrees on steps SC, Council 2-Jun prelim Develop consultant RFP Staff 15-Jun 30-Jun prelim Release RFP Staff 1-Jul 31-Jul prelim Contract awarded Staff 1-Aug 1a Greenhouse Gas Inventory RFP Staff 15-May 15-Jun 1b Greenhouse Gas Inventory Report Staff 30-Jun 31-Aug 1c Greenhouse Gas Inventory Draft Contractor, Staff 31-Aug 1d GHG Inventory Review SC, GIRC 31-Aug 15-Sep 1e GHG Final Report Release Contractor, Staff 15-Sep 15-Oct 2a Identify Ashland CEAP Champions SC, GIRC 1-Jun 30-Jun 2b Build a list of potential leadership participants for GIRC process SC, GIRC 20-May 31-Jul 2c Create charter, roles, responsibilities for Oversight Committee GIRC, SC 4-May 17-Jun 2d Outreach and collect potential Oversight Committee names GIRC, CC, Council, Staff 20-Jun 15-Jul 31-Jul 2e Appoint Oversight Committee Mayor 15-Jul 31-Jul 3a Set Emissions Reductions Targets OC w/Tech experts 4a ID partner orgs. for kickoff event GIRC 1-Jun 20-Sep 4b Public outreach for event GIRC, CC 1-Jul 4c Public Survey on Climate and Energy CC?1-Sep 4d Public Outreach Kickoff Event GIRC, OC 4e Feedback based on kickoff event outcomesGIRC, OC 5a Engage Local Technical Experts OC 1-Aug 6a Consult with City Council and Staff 7a Consultant to draft plan CON 7b Review Draft Plan OC 7c Feedback and revision CON 7d Attain Public Feedback on Plan CON, OC, CC 7e Provide feedback from public CON, OC, experts 7f Finalize Plan CON, OC 8a Public Feedback/Outreach TBD 9a Begin Implementation TBD Ashland Community Climate Energy Action Planning Schedule Draft 5/22/15 Orange=Conservation Commission (CC), Red=Geos Institute and Rogue Climate (GIRC), Blue=Oversight Committee (OC), Turquoise=Contractor (CON), Purple=Climate and Energy Subcommittee (SC), Green=City Staff or Council Oct Nov Nov Dec Dec Jan Jan Feb Feb Mar Mar Apr Apr May May Jun Jun Jul Jul Aug Aug Sep 30-Nov 15-Dec 31-Oct 31-Oct 6-Nov 19-Nov ongoing 15-Jan 15-Dec 28-Mar 4-Apr 29-Apr 1-May 18-May 18-May 17-Jun 20-Jun 1-Jul 5-Jul 21-Jul 5-­‐22-­‐2015     Draft  detailed  steps  in  the  proposed  Climate  and  Energy  Action  Planning  (CEAP)   process.  These  steps  align  with  CEAP  timeline  and  Gantt  chart.       Preliminary   a. Bring  next  steps  to  Conservation  Commission  for  vote   b. City  Council  agrees  on  steps   c. Develop  consultant  RFP  for  planning  process  -­‐  Consultant  will  gather  data  from   public  input,  local  experts  and  emissions  reductions  targets.    RFP  should  contain:   skills  in  running  interactive  workshops/meetings  with  diverse  backgrounds  that   encourages  ownership  and  transfer  of  knowledge  to  all  involved.  Knowledge  of   climate  change/energy  planning.  Depending  on  timing  of  the  hiring  of  the   consultant,  the  consultant  agrees  to  enter  into  the  process  during  or  after  the   grantees  efforts.  The  consultant  agrees  to  consult  the  topic  groups  that  were  formed   at  the  kickoff  event   d. Release  RFP   e. Contract  awarded  -­‐  Consultant  to  start  work  in  August     1. Greenhouse  Gas  Inventory  (GHGI)  -­‐  The  City  conducts  or  contracts  a  greenhouse  gas   inventory  that  includes  a  subset  for  city  operations  (transportation  is  included);  this   inventory  will  also  benefit  the  city  operational  sustainability  plan  that  has  already  been   adopted  by  City  Council.  The  purpose  of  the  GHGI  is  to  identify  local  sources  of  GHG   emissions  so  we  can  direct  resources  in  the  most  efficient  and  cost-­‐effective  manner   possible.   a. GHGI  RFP  –  Specific  reporting  requirements  should  be  identified  in  RFP  (e.g.   seasonal  variations,  transportation,  electricity,  scope  3  emissions).   b. GHGI  Report  –  The  City  conducts  or  contracts  a  greenhouse  gas  inventory   (GHGI)  following  GHGI  standards.  The  Oversight  group  enters  into  the  scene   after  they  are  up  and  running.  The  GHGI  that  includes  a  subset  for  city   operations  (transportation  is  included);  this  inventory  will  also  benefit  the   city  operational  sustainability  plan  that  has  already  been  adopted  by  City   Council.  The  purpose  of  the  GHGI  is  to  identify  local  sources  of  GHG   emissions  so  we  can  direct  resources  in  the  most  efficient  and  cost  effective   manner  possible.     c. GHGI  Draft  –  Release  draft   d. GHGI  Review  –  Small  team  review   e. GHGI  Final  Report  Release   2. Leadership  –  Appoint  a  City/Citizen  Oversight  Group,  which  will  create  a  Technical   Advisory  Committee  to  set  scientifically  valid  GHG  emission  goals,  engage  community   members,  interface  with  other  groups,  conduct  outreach,  guide  strategy  development,   and  prioritize  actions.  City  Staff  will  support  the  Oversight  Group  as  needed.  See   Appendix  III  for  more  information.     a. Identify  Ashland  CEAP  Champions  –  Seek  City  Council  member(s)  and  others   who  agree  to  be  active  champions  of  the  Ashland  CEAP  process.   b. Build  a  list  of  potential  leadership  participants  for  GIRC  process  –  Based  on   the  list  of  categories  in  the  original  CEAP  process,  we  will  develop  a  list  of   potential  kickoff  (GIRC)  leadership  members  to  ask  to  serve.  This  group's   role  will  be  to  provide  recommendations  for  the  Oversight  Group   membership,  get  citizen  input  on  GHG  emissions  targets,  and  provide   guidance  and  leadership  for  a  successful  Kick-­‐off  Event.  This  initial  GIRC   leadership  group  will  convene  through  the  end  of  the  kick-­‐off  event,  but  the   Oversight  Group  will  guide  the  process  during  later  stages.  There  may  be   overlap  in  membership.   c. Create  charter,  roles,  responsibilities  for  Oversight  Committee  –  Review  by   SC   d. Outreach  and  collect  potential  Oversight  Committee  names  –  Outreach   includes  names  and  interest.  GIRC  leadership  group  reviews  list   e. Appoint  Oversight  Committee  -­‐  Appointing  may  help  to  keep  people  involved   and  on  task.  There  is  a  risk  that  it  may  become  bureaucratic.     3. Set  Emissions  Reduction  Targets  –  Many  communities  use  targets  set  by  state   government,  while  others  decide  on  more  stringent  targets  for  their  community.  The   Technical  Advisory  Committee  will  investigate  and  recommend  appropriate  targets  for   Ashland.       a. Set  emissions  reductions  targets  –  a  team  of  experts  will  set  emissions   reduction  targets  based  on  input  from  the  OC  and  the  public  from  the  Kick-­‐off   event.  We  will  collect  public  input  through  outreach,  polling,  and  kickoff   participants.     4. Public  Outreach  -­‐  Hold  a  public  kick-­‐off  event  that  informs  community  members  about   the  effort,  engages  them  on  the  issue,  collects  their  input  on  areas  of  highest  priority,   and  showcases  positive  stories  and  successes  in  energy  savings  and  renewable  energy.     a. Identify  partner  organizations  for  kickoff  event   b. Public  outreach  for  event  –  Aug.  for  general  public.  Oct.  for  SOU  students.   c. Public  Survey  on  Climate  and  Energy  –  SOU  assist  in  the  design  components:     questions,  type,  etc.    The  survey  should  be  conducted  in  a  variety  of  means   d. Kick  off  event  –  large  event  as  planned  by  GIRC,  OC,  and  other  local  partners   e. Feedback  based  on  kickoff  event  outcomes  –  Communication  back  to  the   public  on  findings.   5. Engage  Local  Experts  -­‐  Convene  sector  specialists  to  develop  initial  lists  of  strategies   and  prioritize  them  in  a  collaborative  manner,  based  on  cross-­‐sector  discussions  of   synergies,  short-­‐  vs.  long-­‐term  goals,  areas  with  the  greatest/fastest  potential  energy   savings,  most  vulnerable  resources  and  populations,  and  issues  of  equity  and  local   values.     a. Convene  sector  specialists  to  develop  initial  lists  of  strategies  and  prioritize   them  in  a  collaborative  manner,  based  on  cross-­‐sector  discussions  of   synergies,  short-­‐  vs.  long-­‐term  goals,  areas  with  the  greatest/fastest  potential   energy  savings,  most  vulnerable  resources  and  populations,  andissues  of   equity  and  local  values.  Categories  of  Expertise:    human  health,  climate,   energy,  transportation,  emergency  response,  natural  resources,  water,  etc.   6. Consult  with  City  Council  and  City  Staff  -­‐  Hold  a  working  session  with  City  Council   and  City  Staff  to  further  refine  and  prioritize  emissions  reduction  strategies  and  climate   change  preparedness  strategies.  City  to  identify  a  number  of  actions  for  immediate   implementation.     a. Consult  with  City  Council  and  City  Staff  (see  above)   7. Finalize  the  Plan  –  The  plan  should  include  emissions  targets,  a  timeline,  high  level   goals,  specific  strategies,  and  actions  that  are  organized  by  short  and  long  term   implementation  horizons.  The  plan  should  include  an  implementation  plan  that   specifies  who  is  responsible  for  specific  actions,  a  monitoring  plan  to  assess  progress,   and  periodic  updates  to  the  plan.     a. Consultant  to  draft  plan   b. Review  Draft  Plan  –  Technical  Experts,  Commission(s)  and  City  Council  Study   Session(s)   c. Feedback  and  revision  –  Feedback  as  appropriate  and  revisions,  as  needed   d. Attain  Public  Feedback  on  Plan  –  Obtain  public  feedback  via  public  meetings   and  other  avenues   e. Provide  feedback  from  public  –  as  needed  to  Tech   Experts/Commissions/City  Council   f. Finalize  plan   8. Get  Feedback/Conduct  Outreach  -­‐  Hold  an  open  forum  workshop(s)  to  share   information  and  collect  feedback.  Also  use  online  forums,  local  TV  and  radio,  printed   media,  and  other  outreach  tools.  Report  the  results  online  in  other  venues,  as   appropriate,  with  recap  of  the  process,  detailed  strategies,  and  timeline.     9. Implement  -­‐  Implement  strategies  in  phases,  following  implementation  plan.     10. Assess  performance  -­‐  Measure  and  report  on  results  periodically  (every  1-­‐3  years)   11. Reassess  -­‐  Revise  based  on  new  information,  ongoing  trends,  new  technologies,  and   results  from  monitoring.  Develop  additional  measures  to  protect  the  community  from   climate  change  impacts.     12. Educate  -­‐  Continue  with  public  outreach  and  education  for  sustained  efforts.     Page 1 of 3 Council Communication March 16, 2015, Study Session Ashland Conservation Commission Community Climate and Energy Action Plan Proposal FROM Adam Hanks, Management Analyst, Administration – adam@ashland.or.us : Based on direction from Council at the September 15, 2014 Study Session, the Conservation Commission began a focused effort to develop a process, goals and resources framework for a community climate and energy action plan. The plan includes high level goals, sectors to be addressed, project scope, timeline, resource requirements and an outline of suggested steps to begin implementation of the plan process. Also included in the plan proposal is a review of climate action planning in other communities within the state and beyond, which were utilized to develop the community plan proposal for Ashland. SUMMARY The Commission is seeking comment and feedback on the plan framework and recommends that the project to be funded in the upcoming biennial budget process (FY2015-17). The Conservation Commission has for some time been interested in the City increasing its efforts and focus in the area of sustainability and has spent many years working on both individual sustainability related projects as well as the development and approval of more broad policy level sustainability initiatives to embed sustainability principles into City and community decision making. BACKGROUND AND POLICY IMPLICATIONS: This current proposal and request is a result of the Commission’s request for Council consideration for the 2011-12 Council goal setting process. The following goal was approved as part of the final Council goals for 2011-12, as amended by Council in May of 2012: “Develop a concise sustainability plan for the community and for City operations, beginning with development of a plan framework, suggested plan format, timeline and resource requirements for City Operations that can be used as a model for a community plan to follow” In November of 2012, Council approved the Commission’s suggested Operational Sustainability Plan Framework, Plan Format and Process Outline document that staff has subsequently used as the basis for development and implementation of a formal Operational Sustainability Plan. In September of 2014, the Commission presented Council with a proposal to adopt and utilize the STAR Communities framework, a tool developed originally by ICLEI, Sustainablity for Local Governments, then spun off as its own national template for local government sustainability planning, Page 2 of 3 implementation and measurement. At that meeting, Council reviewed the broad matrix of topics/issues covered by STAR Communities and, rather than moving forward with the complete set, asked the Commission to instead develop a plan that would address climate and energy action specifically (one of seven major topic categories of STAR). The Conservation Commission re-focused the existing sustainability sub-committee of the Commission and began work on developing a plan to address climate and energy action that would meet the goals and objectives of the Council and the community. The sub-committee met twice a month over the past five months and provided three reports to the full Commission with the end result being the Climate and Energy Action Plan included in this meeting packet. A significant component of their work involved research and review of other community level Climate and Energy plans from different communities within Oregon and beyond. The results of this research can be found in Appendix II of the document and include the following summary: Additionally, the sub-committee found the Eugene Climate and Energy Plan especially relevant and has provided a more in depth review of that document as well, which can be found in Appendix V of the action plan. Page 3 of 3 COUNCIL GOALS SUPPORTED: 22. Prepare for the impact of climate change on the community Energy and Infrastructure 22.1 – Develop and implement a community climate change and energy plan The Commission recommendation includes a funding request for the FY2015-17 biennium based on the equivalent of a .5 FTE project coordinator level position. This funding would allow for the use of contract employment, consultant work or new City staff depending on need as the plan development moves forward. Staff has estimated the equivalent cost of the .5 FTE position at $60,000 per fiscal year for a total proposed resources request of $120,000 for the FY2015-17 biennium. FISCAL IMPLICATIONS: This would be in addition to existing staff participation in the plan development, including general project management, subject matter staff expertise (Public Works, Electric, Conservation, Administration) No formal action requested of Council, this item is for discussion, feedback and general direction. STAFF RECOMMENDATION AND REQUESTED ACTION: N/A SUGGESTED MOTION: Conservation Commission Community Climate and Energy Action Plan – March 9, 2015 ATTACHMENTS: Rogue Climate, Oregon Action – Letters of Support September 15, 2014 Council Study Session Minutes - http://www.ashland.or.us/Agendas.asp?Display=Minutes&AMID=5788    1   Conservation  Commission  Recommendations  for  a     Climate  and  Energy  Action  Plan  for  the  Community  of  Ashland,  Oregon   March  9,  2015     Background:    Climate  change  poses  a  severe  threat  to  the  health,  safety  and  livelihoods  of  current  and   future  residents  of  Ashland,  as  well  as  people  around  the  globe.  Climate  change  also  severely  threatens   the  natural  world  and  the  resources  we  depend  on.  We  are  already  feeling  the  impacts  of  climate  change   at  the  local  level.  Without  emissions  reductions,  severe  drought,  floods,  and  wildfires  are  all  expected  to   worsen  and  accelerate  over  time.  Local  impacts  are  already  being  felt,  including  a  lack  of  snow  and  loss  of   revenue  at  Mt.  Ashland;  water  restrictions  during  severe  drought,  such  as  those  in  2014;  and  smoke  from   forest  fires  affecting  the  tourist  industry  when  plays  are  cancelled  and  rivers  are  closed  for  rafting.  By   reducing  emissions  locally  we  can  contribute  to  preventing  increasingly  severe  impacts.  Because  many   changes  are  inevitable  due  to  gases  already  emitted,  we  also  need  to  prepare  our  community  for  the   changes  ahead.  The  community  of  Ashland,  with  its  strong  history  of  conservation  and  a  population   engaged  in  the  issue,  is  poised  to  take  truly  meaningful  action  on  this  extremely  important  issue.      State  Level  Efforts  and  Policies:    In  2004,  the  state  of  Oregon  passed  a  resolution  to  combat  climate   change  by  setting  short  and  long  term  targets  for  reducing  greenhouse  gas  emissions  statewide.  The  state   has  goals  to  reduce  emissions  by  10%  below  1990  levels  by  2020  and  75%  below  1990  levels  by  2050.  A   recent  report  (Oregon  Global  Warming  Commission  2013)  shows  that  progress  has  been  made  and  our   state  is  on  a  trajectory  to  meet  its  targets,  but  that  success  is  tenuous  and  sustained  efforts  are  not  yet  in   place.    Success  at  the  state  level  relies  heavily  on  actions  taken  at  the  local  level.  See  Appendices  I  and  II   for  more  information  on  state  and  local  actions.  The  vast  majority  of  state  universities  in  Oregon,   including  SOU,  has  created  Climate  Action  Plans  and  has  dedicated  sustainability  staff.      Why  our  community  needs  to  take  action:  As  climate  change  has  progressed  unabated  and  new   scientific  evidence  has  become  available,  the  urgency  of  immediate  and  forceful  action  has  become   increasingly  clear.  The  state  will  not  be  able  to  meet  its  short  and  long  term  goals  without  action  on   greenhouse  gas  (GHG)  emissions  at  the  local  level.  Many  communities  in  Oregon  are  already  taking  action   to  reduce  emissions.  Because  of  this,  there  are  numerous  plans  and  frameworks  that  Ashland  can  model   its  efforts  after,  reducing  the  investment  in  planning  and  moving  more  quickly  to  action.  Action  on  climate   change  provides  numerous  benefits  besides  greenhouse  gas  emissions  reductions  –  it  also  provides   cleaner  air  and  water,  locally  sourced  energy  that  creates  a  stronger  local  economy,  and  monetary  savings   for  residents  that  conserve  energy.  In  addition  to  GHG  emissions  reductions,  the  community  needs  to   become  more  resilient  in  the  face  of  increasing  likelihood  of  extreme  events  such  as  heat  waves,  drought,   severe  wildfire  and  floods.  Addressing  community  vulnerabilities  and  developing  cross-­‐sector  strategies   are  both  vital  for  increased  community  resilience.         Goals  of  a  plan  for  Ashland:   1. Conduct  a  highly  collaborative  cross-­‐sector  effort  on  climate  change,  driven  by  a  City/Citizen  Oversight   Group,  which  in  turn  is  supported  by  a  Technical  Advisory  Committee  and  City  Staff  (Appendix  III);  and   with  extensive  community  input,  engagement  and  ongoing  educational  outreach.     2. Develop  a  Climate  and  Energy  Action  Plan  for  the  Community  of  Ashland  (including  city  operations  as   well  as  all  residents,  businesses,  schools,  and  others)  that  includes  greenhouse  gas  emissions  targets,   specific  goals  and  strategies,  an  implementation  plan,  timelines,  and  monitoring  requirements  for   reducing  GHG  emissions  throughout  the  Community  of  Ashland.   3. Identify  risks  and  vulnerabilities  of  a  changing  climate  to  the  community  and  resources  of  Ashland;   develop,  prioritize,  and  implement  strategies  to  protect  the  community  from  climate  change  impacts.     4. Participate  in  regional  efforts  to  reduce  emissions  across  jurisdictions,  including  city  and  county.       Specific  sectors  to  be  addressed:   w  Infrastructure   w  Economics  &  Tourism   w  Natural  Resources   w  Renewable  Energy  &   Energy  Efficiency   w  Food  &  Agriculture   w  Land  use  &  Transportation   w  Consumption  &  Waste   w  Health  &  Social  Services        2   Scope:  The  Community  of  Ashland,  City  Operations,  the  Ashland  watershed  and  other  areas  of  influence.         Timeline:  Planning  to  begin  in  spring  of  2015  with  implementation  of  initial  actions  to  begin  no  later   than  spring  2016.  The  plan  will  continue  to  be  revised  over  time  to  include  more  adaptation  strategies   and  update  mitigation  strategies,  as  needed.       Resource  needs:  At  least  0.5FTE  staff  time  or  equivalent  in  contracted  assistance  this  FY15-­‐17  to  manage   the  development  of  the  Climate  and  Energy  Plan  (year  1)  and  begin  to  implement  the  plan  (year  2).         Steps  in  chronological  order:   1. Greenhouse  Gas  Inventory  -­‐  The  City  conducts  or  contracts  a  greenhouse  gas  inventory  that   includes  a  subset  for  city  operations  (transportation  is  included);  this  inventory  will  also  benefit  the   city  operational  sustainability  plan  that  has  already  been  adopted  by  City  Council.  The  purpose  of  the   GHG  inventory  is  to  identify  local  sources  of  GHG  emissions  so  we  can  direct  resources  in  the  most   efficient  and  cost-­‐effective  manner  possible.         2. Leadership  –  Appoint  a  City/Citizen  Oversight  Group,  which  will  create  a  Technical  Advisory   Committee  to  set  scientifically  valid  GHG  emission  goals,  engage  community  members,  interface  with   other  groups,  conduct  outreach,  guide  strategy  development,  and  prioritize  actions.  City  Staff  will   support  the  Oversight  Group  as  needed.  See  Appendix  III  for  more  information.     3. Set  Emissions  Reduction  Targets  –  Many  communities  use  targets  set  by  state  government,  while   others  decide  on  more  stringent  targets  for  their  community.  The  Technical  Advisory  Committee  will   investigate  and  recommend  appropriate  targets  for  Ashland.       4. Public  Outreach  -­‐  Hold  a  public  kick-­‐off  event  that  informs  community  members  about  the  effort,   engages  them  on  the  issue,  collects  their  input  on  areas  of  highest  priority,  and  showcases  positive   stories  and  successes  in  energy  savings  and  renewable  energy.     5. Engage  Local  Experts  -­‐  Convene  sector  specialists  to  develop  initial  lists  of  strategies  and  prioritize   them  in  a  collaborative  manner,  based  on  cross-­‐sector  discussions  of  synergies,  short-­‐  vs.  long-­‐term   goals,  areas  with  the  greatest/fastest  potential  energy  savings,  most  vulnerable  resources  and   populations,  and  issues  of  equity  and  local  values.     6. Consult  with  City  Council  and  City  Staff  -­‐  Hold  a  working  session  with  City  Council  and  City  Staff  to   further  refine  and  prioritize  emissions  reduction  strategies  and  climate  change  preparedness   strategies.  City  to  identify  a  number  of  actions  for  immediate  implementation.     7. Finalize  the  Plan  –  The  plan  should  include  emissions  targets,  a  timeline,  high  level  goals,  specific   strategies,  and  actions  that  are  organized  by  short  and  long  term  implementation  horizons.  The  plan   should  include  an  implementation  plan  that  specifies  who  is  responsible  for  specific  actions,  a   monitoring  plan  to  assess  progress,  and  periodic  updates  to  the  plan.     8. Get  Feedback  -­‐  Hold  an  open  forum  workshop(s)  to  share  information  and  collect  feedback.  Also  use   online  forums,  local  TV  and  radio,  printed  media,  and  other  outreach  tools.  Report  the  results  online   in  other  venues,  as  appropriate,  with  recap  of  the  process,  detailed  strategies,  and  timeline.     9. Implement  -­‐  Implement  strategies  in  phases,  following  implementation  plan.     10. Assess  performance  -­‐  Measure  and  report  on  results  periodically  (every  1-­‐3  years)   11. Reassess  -­‐  Revise  based  on  new  information,  ongoing  trends,  new  technologies,  and  results  from   monitoring.  Develop  additional  measures  to  protect  the  community  from  climate  change  impacts.     12. Educate  -­‐  Continue  with  public  outreach  and  education  for  sustained  efforts.        3   Appendix  I  –  Roadmap  2020   In  2010,  the  Oregon  Global  Warming  Commission  developed  the  Roadmap  2020  with   recommendations  on  how  to  meet  its  2020  greenhouse  gas  emissions  goals  and  get  a  head  start   on  its  2050  goals.  Six  technical  committees  were  convened  to  address  actions  in  specific  sectors   (energy/utilities,  industry,  forestry,  agriculture,  materials/waste  management,  and   transportation/land  use).  Recommended  actions  came  from  each  technical  committee  as  well  as   additional  “integrating”  actions  that  work  across  sectors.       Some  key  actions  included:   • Work  with  state  agencies  and  local  governments  to  conduct  greenhouse  gas  inventories   across  the  state   • Advocate  for  a  carbon  price  signal  across  goods  and  services,  through  an  emissions  cap  or   a  carbon  tax   • Reduce  (prevent)  waste  of  food  at  the  retail  and  consumer  level  by  5-­‐50%   • Ramp  down  emissions  associated  with  coal  generation   • Provide  financial  incentives  to  reduce  lifecycle  building-­‐related  greenhouse  gas  emissions   by  80%   • Eliminate  reliance  on  a  gas  tax  for  funding  transportation  infrastructure   • Develop  new  funding  streams  to  support  climate-­‐friendly  transportation  options,   including  high  speed  rail  from  Eugene  to  British  Columbia   • Encourage  agricultural  practices  that  increase  carbon  sequestration  in  soils   • Prepare  the  agricultural  industry  for  reclining  reliability  of  water  resources     For  more  information  on  the  Roadmap  2020  and  the  full  report  go  to  this  link   (http://www.keeporegoncool.org/content/roadmap-­‐2020).       For  the  third  biennial  report  (2013)  to  Legislature  from  the  Oregon  Global  Warming  Commission   go  to  this  link  (http://www.keeporegoncool.org/view/ogwc-­‐reports).              4   Appendix  II  –  Review  of  Climate  Action  Planning  in  other  Communities   The  Climate  and  Energy  Subcommittee  of  the  Conservation  Commission  reviewed  numerous   Climate  and  Energy  Action  Plans  from  other  communities.  We  found  certain  aspects  of  the   different  plans  to  be  informative  in  our  efforts  to  develop  strategies  for  Ashland.  We  have  listed   plans  that  we  think  are  good  examples  in  Table  1,  along  with  some  of  their  more  outstanding  or   unique  features  (shown  in  bold  in  Table  1).       Definitions     • Mitigation  refers  to  reduction  in  greenhouse  gas  concentrations  in  the  atmosphere  in  order  to   reduce  the  overall  magnitude  of  climate  change.  Effective  mitigation  requires  concomitant   emissions  reductions  throughout  the  U.S.  and  other  key  nations,  as  well  as  increased  carbon   uptake  in  forests.  Mitigation  is  needed  to  protect  people  from  the  most  severe  impacts  over  the   long  term.     • Adaptation  refers  to  actions  taken  to  protect  people  and  resources  from  the  impacts  of  climate   change.  As  climate  change  is  already  being  felt  and  impacts  will  worsen  for  decades  based  on   emissions  already  released,  adaptation  is  needed  along  with  mitigation.         Overall  assessment:     MOST  plans  are:   • Based  on  a  long-­‐term  positive  vision  for  the  community   • Sponsored  and/or  led  by  City  or  County  government   • Based  on  a  community-­‐wide  greenhouse  gas  assessment   • Focused  on  time  horizons  of  15-­‐25  years  (mostly  due  to  California  mandates)   • Iterative  in  nature,  with  regular  monitoring  and  reassessing  to  track  progress   • Both  City  and  Community  in  scope   • Based  on  greenhouse  gas  emissions  targets  set  at  the  state  level     But  SOME  communities  go  further  and  create  more  robust  plans.     MANY  plans  have:   • Goals/strategies  specific  to  near,  mid,  and  long  term  time  horizons   • Greenhouse  gas  savings  calculated  for  each  specific  action   • Cost  and/or  cost  savings  calculated  for  each  specific  action   • Adaptation  strategies  incorporated  in  with  mitigation  strategies  for  each  sector   • Strategies  developed  from  highly  collaborative  community-­‐based  workshops  and  meetings   • Education  on  climate  change  as  a  primary  strategy   • Social  equity  goals  also  addressed   • Population  and  business  growth  calculated  into  the  emissions  savings  equation   • Goals  for  carbon  neutrality   • Acknowledgement  of  the  urgency  of  the  issue   • Plans  for  more  adaptation  strategies  to  be  developed  over  time            5   Table  1.  City/Community  Climate  and  Energy  Plans  reviewed  for  this  effort.       City     Pop.     Year  Lead   Entity  &   Partners   Mitigation,   Adaptation   or  both?   GHG   Inventory?     Targets   Austin,  TX  845,000  2014  City  Mitigation  Yes  in  2010  City  fleets  and  operations  carbon   neutral  by  2020   Net  Zero  community  wide  by  2050   Details:  Austin  City  Council  adopted  a  resolution  in  2007  and  another  one  in  2014.  Their  2014  resolution   states  that  they  will  develop  a  community  wide  climate  action  plan,  with  the  following  topics  to  be   addressed:  targets  (the  resolution  specified  the  targets,  as  listed  above),  specific  sectors  and  populations  to   assess  (energy  use,  transportation,  landfills,  manufacturing,  with  community  growth  factored  in),   community  input  and  advisory  groups,  accountability,  barriers  to  progress,  monitoring  and  updates,  and   responsible  entity  (City  Manager).   Chico,  CA  100,000   (includes   rural   areas)   2010  City,  CSU   Chico,   Community   members   Mitigation  Yes  5%  below  2005  by  2015   20%  below  2005  by  2020   Details:  Chico  developed  a  Climate  Action  Plan  to  reduce  emissions  across  the  Energy,  Transportation,  and   Waste  sectors.  Their  plan  provided  specific  emissions  targets  for  each  sector  and  also  provided  a   breakdown  for  City  vs.  Community  emissions.  The  Chico  plan  provides  detailed  steps  for  how  they   created  their  plan  and  could  be  a  useful  guide  for  Ashland.  Their  plan  also  includes  a  cost-­‐benefit   analysis.  They  are  developing  an  Adaptation  Plan.     Some  notable  actions  include:  (1)  expand  landfill  methane  capture;  (2)  consider  carbon  emissions  in   contracting  for  city  projects;  (3)  pursue  installation  of  purchase  power  agreements  on  city  property;  (4)   weatherization  program  for  low  income  homes;  (5)  develop  an  urban  forest  plan.   Corvallis,   OR   55,000  2014   draft   Task  Force   (volunteer)   Both  Yes  in  2012  10%  below  1990  by  2020   75%  below  1990  by  2050   Reduce  fossil  fuel  use  50%  by  2030   Details:  Corvallis’  plan  is  being  created  by  a  volunteer  Task  Force  working  with  the  Urban  Services   Committee  (City).  They  held  2  public  forums  to  collect  input.  Their  plan  is  created  with  a  sense  of  urgency,   focused  on  City  Council  and  Staff,  and  through  a  lens  of  social  equity.     Some  notable  actions  include:  (1)  support  the  Georgetown  Energy  Prize  effort;  (2)  re-­‐write  building   codes  to  follow  Architecture  2030  or  another  maximum  efficiency  standard;  (3)  transition  to  100%   renewable  by  2030  by  supporting  renewable  energy  projects  and  carbon  tax  efforts;  (4)  establish  car-­‐free   streets  downtown.   Eugene,  OR  160,000  2009  City,   Springfield,   other   partners   Both  Yes  in  2007  City  Ops  carbon  neutral  by  2020   10%  below  1990  by  2020   Communitywide   Fossil  fuel  50%  below  1990  by  2030   Details:  Eugene  City  Council  asked  City  Staff  to  develop  a  Climate  Action  Plan.  They  worked  with  many   partners,  from  universities  to  NGOs  and  private  citizens  to  develop  a  joint  mitigation  and  adaptation   plan  for  the  whole  community.  The  sectors  they  looked  at  included  Buildings  and  energy,  Food  and   agriculture,  Land  use  and  transportation,  Consumption  and  waste,  Health  and  natural  resources,  and  Urban   natural  resources.      Some  notable  actions  include:  (1)  target  multi-­‐family  housing  for  energy  efficiency  upgrades;  (2)  public   institutions  purchase  climate  friendly  goods  and  services;  (3)  create  2-­‐minute  neighborhoods  for  basic   needs  and  services  in  walking  distance;  (4)  support  electric  charging  stations  in  multi-­‐family  housing;  (5)   conduct  a  Vulnerability  Assessment  for  health  and  Human  Services  impacts  from  climate  change.   Fort   Collins,  CO   152,000  2008  City  Mitigation  Yes  20%  below  2005  by  2020   80%  below  2005  by  2050   Details:  Fort  Collins  created  a  Climate  Action  Plan  that  works  across  the  community  with  both  mandates   and  voluntary  measures  and  a  significant  public  outreach  campaign.  They  are  currently  working  on      6   Adaptation  strategies  to  complement  their  mitigation  strategies.  They  showed  the  cost  savings  of  the   measures  in  their  plan.       Some  notable  actions  include:  (1)  increase  tree  canopy  to  reduce  energy  demand;  (2)  outreach  to   business  community;  (3)  require  green  building  to  get  public  financing;  (4)  aim  for  50%  waste  diversion;   (5)  promote  Net  Zero  ready  homes.   Grand   Rapids,  MI   188,000  2013  City  and   ICLEI   Both  Yes  in  2009  7%  reduction  in  emissions  by  2012;   Continue  to  reduce  emissions  1%  per   year   Details:  Grand  Rapids  was  awarded  the  Climate  Protection  Award  by  the  U.S.  Conference  of  Mayors.  They   completed  a  “Climate  Resiliency”  Report  that  outlines  cross-­‐sector  strategies  for  preparing  for  climate   change  impacts  and  reducing  their  emissions.  They  addressed  economics  (energy,  infrastructure,   transportation,  agriculture,  risk  management),  environmental  issues  (water,  land  use,  wetlands,  forests,   parks),  and  social  impacts  (emergency  response,  health,  crime).       Some  notable  actions  include:  (1)  increase  tree  canopy  by  40%  to  reduce  energy  use;  (2)  use  porous   pavement  as  flood  abatement;  (3)  power  100%  of  city  operations  with  renewable  power  by  2020;  (4)   Protect  underserved,  minority,  and  low  income  populations  from  the  disproportionate  climate  change   impacts;  (5)  Restore  rivers  to  more  natural  state  to  improve  water  quality  and  enhance  flood  protection.   Missoula,   MT   69,000  2012  City   Operations   Both  Yes  in  2008  10%  below  2008  by  2015   50%  below  2008  by  2020   carbon  neutral  by  2025   Details:  The  City  of  Missoula,  Montana  committed  to  become  climate  neutral  by  2025.  Their  Conservation   and  Climate  Action  Plan  focuses  on  conservation  and  energy  reduction  measures,  along  with  carbon  offsets.   They  plan  to  track  costs,  energy/monetary  savings,  and  avoided  emissions  over  time,  specific  to  each   implemented  strategy.  Their  plan  focuses  on  city  operations.  They  used  the  Climate  and  Air  Pollution   Planning  Assistant  (CAPPA)  online  tool  available  through  ICLEI,  to  calculate  energy  savings,  avoided   emissions,  and  dollar  savings.    Some  notable  actions  include:  (1)  need  for  immediate  action;  (2)  they  dedicated  a  FULL  TIME  staff   position  to  implementing  the  plan;  (3)  replace  city  vehicles  with  electric/hybrid  vehicles  over  time;  (4)   recommission  city  buildings  to  reduce  energy  use  16%;  (5)  incentives  for  ridesharing  and  flexible  work   schedules;  (6)  include  sustainability  measures  in  all  job  descriptions  and  performance  reviews;  (7)   increase  PV  systems  on  city  buildings  from  2  buildings  to  23;  (8)  expand  Conservation  Lands  Program.   Oberlin,  OH  8,400  2011  City  Mitigation  Yes  in  2007  50%  below  2007  by  2015   70%  below  2007  by  2030   100%  below  2007  by  2050   Details:  Oberlin  College  committed  to  become  climate  neutral  by  2025.  The  city  joined  the  pledge  in  2011   with  their  Climate  Action  Plan  that  focuses  on  renewable  energy,  energy  efficiency,  transportation,  green   building,  waste  management  and  education.      Some  notable  actions  include:  (1)  increased  efficiencies  in  heating,  cooling,  and  lighting;  (2)  embrace  the   Architecture  2030  Challenge;  (3)  reduce  solid  waste  2%  per  year;  (4)  create  community  and  business   environmental  awards;  (5)  hold  community  workshops.   San  Luis   Obispo,  CA   46,000  2012  City,  Cal   Poly,   Contractor   Both  Yes  in  2008;   City/Community   15%  reduction  from  2005  baseline  by   2020   Details:  The  city  provides  specific  greenhouse  gas  emissions  goals  for  each  sector  (Buildings,  Renewable   energy,  Transportation  and  Land  Use,  Waste,  Government  Operations,  and  State  Policies)  and  details  the   carbons  saved  with  EACH  strategy.  A  table  on  pages  59-­‐62  shows  the  GHG  savings  for  each  strategy,   timescale  for  each,  cost,  and  the  responsible  entity.       Some  notable  actions  include:  (1)  expand  energy  efficiency  retrofits;  (2)  work  with  the  County  to   develop  network  for  renewable  energy  financing;  (3)  mandate  electric  vehicle  charging  stations;  (4)  install   renewable  energy  systems  on  City  buildings;  (5)  allocate/hire  staff  to  implement  CAP  programs.      7       Fig.  1.  Example  from  Missoula,  Montana’s  Climate  Action  Plan.  Comparative  energy  and  cost   savings/monetary  costs  for  each  proposed  strategy.      8   Appendix  III  –  Oversight  Group,  Advisory  Committee  and  City  Staff   Recommendation  –  City/Citizen  Oversight  Group  and  Technical  Advisory  Committee  to  be  comprised  of  a   mix  of  people  from  many  the  following  areas.  The  Oversight  Group  will  create  a  Technical  Advisory   Committee  to  help  set  scientifically  valid  GHG  emission  goals,  engage  community  members,  interface  with   other  groups,  conduct  outreach,  guide  strategy  development,  and  prioritize  actions.  City  Staff  will  provide   support  to  the  Oversight  Group,  as  needed. • Ashland  School  District   • Chamber  of  Commerce   • Transportation  and  Planning   Commissions   • Conservation  Commissioners  from   the  Climate/Energy  Subcommittee   • Watershed  oversight     • Jackson  County  Housing  Authority   and/or  ACCESS     • Utilities   • SOU   • Rogue  Climate  and/or  SOCAN   • RVTD   • Clean  Energy  Works   • City  Councilors   • City  building/engineering  experts   • OCF,  other  community  foundations   • Tourism  sector  (e.g.  OSF,  hotel   facilities  experts)   • Recology  Ashland  Sanitary  Service   • Community  at  large     Appendix  IV  –  Some  initial  actions  that  other  cities  are  taking  and  that  Ashland  could   consider  implementing  quickly     • Virtual  net  metering  –  allows  for  renewable  energy  to  be  generated  on  a  separate   site  but  owned  by  people  with  other  accounts  and  in  other  areas.  Allows   cooperatives  and  other  investment  sharing  opportunities  (Eugene)   • Expanded  education  and  outreach  on  climate  change  impacts,  preparedness,   renewable  energy  opportunities,  and  energy  conservation  (San  Luis  Obispo)   • Evaluate  incentives  for  highly  energy  efficient  buildings  aiming  for  net-­‐zero   construction  and  retrofits  (Eugene  and  Corvallis)   • Energy  performance  score  program  for  new  residential  construction  –  voluntary     • Explore  possibilities  for  utility  scale  solar     • Assess  viability  of  Bonneville  hydroelectric  generation  with  climate  change   • Conduct  a  pilot  project  at  waste  water  treatment  plant  to  determine  the  system   ability  to  co-­‐digest  food  waste  and  bio-­‐solids  to  generate  electricity  (Eugene)   • Develop  and  implement  master  pedestrian  and  bike  plan  (Eugene)   • Ultimate  goal  for  becoming  platinum  level  bike  friendly  city   • Diversify  funding  sources  to  increase  long  term  reliability  and  affordability  of  mass   transit  (Eugene)   • Conduct  a  climate  and  energy  vulnerability  assessment  that  assesses  the  mid-­‐term   and  longer-­‐term  climate  and  energy  vulnerabilities  of  essential  services  -­‐  water,   food,  health,  housing,  and  sanitation.     • Install  renewable  energy  systems  on  city  buildings  (Grand  Rapids,  Oberlin,  San  Luis   Obispo,  Missoula,  etc.)  and/or  school  district  buildings   • Strategically  increase  tree  canopy  cover  to  reduce  cooling  costs  over  time,  especially   near  schools  and  other  public  buildings  without  air  conditioning  (Fort  Collins,   Missoula)   • Work  with  Jackson  County  to  develop  a  network  of  renewable  energy  financing  and   joint  projects  (San  Luis  Obispo)   • Support  mitigation  and  adaptation  measures  at  the  state  level  (San  Luis  Obispo,  etc.)        9   Appendix  V  –  OUTLINE  OF  CLIMATE  AND  ENERGY  PLAN  FOR  EUGENE,  OREGON   Population  –  160,000   Plan  developed  –  Winter  2008/2009   City  Council  asked  staff  to  develop  plan     Plan  Development  -­‐  Assembled  in  May  2009.    11  team   members.       City  of  Springfield   UO  Climate  Leadership  Initiative   Eugene  Area  Chamber  of  Commerce   Eugene  Water  and  Electric  Board   Friends  of  Eugene   Eugene  Human  Rights  Commission   Lane  Transit  District   Lane  County   Neighborhood  Leaders  Council   City  of  Eugene  Planning  Commission   City  of  Eugene  Sustainability  Commission     Goals:   1. All  city  operations  and  City-­‐owned  facilities  were  to  be  carbon-­‐neutral  by  2020.   2. Reduce  community-­‐wide  greenhouse  gas  emissions  10  percent  below  1990  levels   by  2020.     3. Reduce  community-­‐wide  fossil  fuel  use  50  percent  by  2030.     4. Identify  strategies  that  will  help  the  community  adapt  to  a  changing  climate  and   increasing  fossil  fuel  prices.       Action  Areas:   1. Buildings  and  Energy   2. Food  and  Agriculture   3. Land  Use  and  Transportation   4. Consumption  and  Waste   5. Health  and  Social  Services   6. Urban  Natural  Resources     Public  Engagement  Process:   1. Kickoff  event  September  2009   2. One  public  forum  held  on  each  of  the  six  identified  action  areas  between  Oct  2009   and  March  2010.   a. 8-­‐12  topic  specialists  were  identified  in  each  of  the  six  topic  areas.   b. Strategy  list  was  compiled  using  information  submitted  by  regional  experts   and  gleaned  from  municipal  and  state  level  climate  and  energy  plans  from      10   across  the  nation.    The  list  was  reviewed  and  refined    by  the  topic  specialists   and  used  as  a  starting  place  for  the  public  forums.     c. Public  forums  in  each  of  the  topic  areas.     i. Attended  by  topic  specialists   ii. Neighborhood  leaders   iii. Sustainability  Commissioners   iv. 50-­‐120  community  members.   d. Topic  specialists  reviewed  proposed  actions  and  strategies  that  emerged   from  public  forums,  provided  input  on  priorities,  clarified  ideas,  identified   opportunities  and  challenges,  and  helped  to  ground  the  process  in  Eugene’s   unique  economic,  social,  and  environmental  conditions.     e. Advisory  team  members  weighed  information  form  background  documents,   input  for  the  public  forums,  and  topic  specialist  meetings.    Team  completes  a   final  review  of  strategies  and  comments  on  the  draft  Community  Climate  and   Energy  Action  Plan.     f. Additional  research  was  conducted  after  the  draft  was  released  to  clarify   some  of  the  relative  costs  and  benefits  of  actions.  Targets  and  measures  were   also  added.     3. Final  plan  only  includes  action  items  expected  to  reduce  fossil  fuel  consumption  and   Greenhouse  Gas  Emissions,  and  to  prepare  Eugene  for  the  impacts  of  energy  price   volatility  and  climate  uncertainty.     4. Funding  –  In  2011  $200,000  of  one-­‐time  funding  was  earmarked  for  use  in   implementing  the  Community  Climate  and  Energy  Action  Plan.     Unique  Factors  in  the  Eugene  Plan  –   1. Internal  Climate  Action  Plan.    City  of  Eugene  operations  will  be  climate  neutral  by   2020.  Strategies  include:   a. Increase  energy  efficiency   b. Increase  waste  prevention   c. Improve  purchasing  methods   d. Offset  energy  use  by  purchasing  quality  carbon  offsets.   2. Waste  reduction  plan  -­‐  Reduce  waste  90%  by  2030.   3. Food  Scope  Document.    Worked  towards  improving  food  security  in  Eugene.   4. Inventory  of  Community  Greenhouse  Gas  Emissions  Report  done  in  2007     Objectives  and  Actions  for  Buildings  and  Energy   1. Reduce  total  GHG  emissions  from  existing  buildings  by  50%  by  2030.   2. Reduce  total  GHG  emissions  from  new  construction  by  50%  by  2030.   3. Expand  Development  of  Renewable  and  District  Energy  Systems   4. Increase  the  implementation  of  climate  change  preparation  strategies  for  the  built   environment  (adaptation)     Objectives  and  Actions  for  Food  and  Agriculture   1. Reduce  consumption  of  carbon-­‐intensive  foods   2. Reduce  GHG  emissions  associated  with  agriculture  and  food  waste      11   3. Increase  food  security  by  preserving  the  productive  capacity  of  the  local  and   regional  foodsheds.   4. Prepare  food  systems  for  the  uncertainties  created  by  climate  change  and  rising   energy  prices.   5. Increase  availability  of  home-­‐grown  and  locally-­‐sources  food  in  Eugene     Objectives  and  Actions  for  Land  Use  and  Transportation   1. Create  20-­‐minute  neighborhoods,  where  90  percent  of  Eugene  residents  can  safely   walk  or  bicycle  to  meet  most  basic,  daily,  non-­‐work  needs,  and  have  safe  pedestrian   and  bicycle  routes  that  connect  to  mass  transit.   2. Increase  density  around  the  urban  core  and  along  high-­‐capacity  transit  corridors   3. Include  the  potential  for  climate  refugees  when  conducting  land  use  planning.   4. Continue  to  expand  and  improve  Eugene’s  bicycle  and  pedestrian  infrastructure  and   connectivity  to  increase  the  percentage  of  trips  made  by  bike  and  on  foot.   5. Increase  the  supply  of  integrated,  convenient,  efficient,  and  cost-­‐  effective  public   transit   6. Expand  outreach,  marketing  and  education  about  climate-­‐friendly  transportation   alternatives   7. Ensure  maximum  efficiency  in  current  and  future  freight  systems   8. Increase  the  use  of  low-­‐carbon  vehicles  and  fuels  to  improve  overall  fuel-­‐efficiency   and  reduce  vulnerability  to  fluctuating  oil  prices.     Objectives  and  Actions  for  Consumption  and  Waste   1. Reduce  greenhouse  gas  emissions  by  addressing  purchasing  habits   2. Increase  waste  diversion  by  improving  recycling     3. Increase  waste  diversion  rate  for  organic  wastes     4. Conduct  research  to  determine  the  most  effective  next  steps  in  the  area  of   consumption  and  waste     5. Reduce  greenhouse  gases  in  municipal  operations  by  changing  purchasing  practices   and  reducing  waste     Objectives  and  Actions  for  Health  and  Social  Services   1. Prepare  community  systems  for  longer-­‐term  climate  and  energy  challenges   including  fuel  shortages,  increased  summer  drought  and  increased  storm  intensity   2. Reduce  exposure  of  human  populations  to  climate-­‐related  disasters   3. Increase  the  capacity  of  Eugene’s  health  sector,  and  the  community  at  large,  to  meet   the  health-­‐related  challenges  of  climate  change  and  rising  fuel  prices  by  fostering   greater  involvement  of  the  public  health  system  in  climate  change  and  energy   planning     Objectives  and  Actions  for  Urban  Natural  Resources   1. Protect  sensitive  urban  natural  areas  including  riparian  areas,  wetlands,  and   floodplains,  for  multiple  benefits  including  improved  water  and  air  quality,  reduced   water  and  air  temperatures,  and  reduced  flooding   2. Manage  and  update  urban  natural  resource  information,  and  make  data  available  to   public  and  policy-­‐makers        12   3. Update  vegetation  management  plans.     4. Educate  community  members  about  the  importance  of  urban  natural  resources     5. Manage  stormwater  to  reduce  flooding,  recharge  groundwater,  and  improve  water   quality     6. Expand  public  and  private  programs  to  manage,  and  invest  in,  trees  to  cool   buildings,  pavement,  and  waterways     7. Encourage  ongoing  water  conservation     8. Strengthen  protections  of  drinking  water  sources.         Following  are  select  introductory  pages  from  Eugene’s  plan.     The  full  plan  is  available  at  https://www.eugene-­‐or.gov/Archive/ViewFile/Item/80     A Community Climate and Energy Action Plan for Eugene September 2010 3 Eugene’s first Climate and Energy Action Plan: In 2008, in response to increasing concern about global climate change and the potential for volatile and rising fuel prices, Eugene’s City Council asked staff to develop Eugene’s first Community Climate and Energy Action Plan. The Community Climate and Energy Action Plan goals: 1. Reduce community-wide greenhouse gas emissions 10 percent below 1990 levels by 2020. 2. Reduce community-wide fossil fuel use 50 percent by 2030. 3. Identify strategies that will help the community adapt to a changing climate and increasing fossil fuel prices. The Six Action Areas: Buildings and Energy looks at energy used in residential, commercial, and industrial buildings in Eugene. This section includes recommendations to reduce energy use in existing buildings and new construction, expand use of renewable energy, and prepare buildings for climate change. Food and Agriculture includes everything related to our food production, delivery, distribution, and waste disposal. This section includes recommendations to reduce consumption of meat and dairy foods, reduce greenhouse gas emissions associated with agriculture and food waste, protect regional farmland, increase home- and locally-grown foods, and prepare our food systems for an uncertain future. 1 “State of the Climate Global Analysis,” National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, June 2010. 2 “IPCC Fourth Assessment Report: Climate Change 2007,” Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, 2007. 3 “Peaking of World Oil Production: Recent Forecasts,” US Department of Energy, 2007. Executive Summary Ex e c u t i v e S u m m a r y The decade from 2000 to 2009 was the warmest ever recorded.[1] Over the last three decades, each has been warmer than the one before and science is telling us that this trend will continue.[2] In addition, the inexpensive fossil fuels that our community and country depend on for transportation, food production, and industry are projected to become increasingly expensive.[3] Eugene is joining a growing list of cities around the world that are addressing these climate change and energy concerns with a plan to meet the challenges with vision and creativity. In developing this local plan, community leaders and citizens have clearly recognized the need to re-imagine how we live, eat, travel, and play. As we work to adapt to the uncertainties ahead, we can be sure that the boldness of our actions today will determine the quality of life in Eugene now and into the future. 4 Ex e c u t i v e S u m m a r y Land Use and Transportation considers the use of land and the transportation of people and goods. This section includes recommendations to increase urban density and mixes of land use and a focus on improving systems for bike, pedestrian, transit, and electric vehicles. Consumption and Waste looks at everything in the lifecycle of consumer goods from extraction of raw materials to manufacturing, packaging, distribution, product use and finally, disposal. This section includes recommendations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions associated with consumption of goods, improve recycling and composting, improve municipal purchasing practices, and adapt consumption strategies based on new findings. Health and Social Services addresses mental and physical health care and assistance programs for disadvantaged populations. This section contains recommendations to prepare health and social systems for a different future and reduce the impacts of climate-related disasters. Urban Natural Resources considers the soil, air, water, plants, and animals of our city. This section contains recommendations to manage land, trees, and water for multiple benefits, update resource management plans, improve access to natural resource data, and expand drinking water and stormwater management programs. 5 Mayor Kitty Piercy The City of Eugene has a long history of environmental stewardship. It is a legacy to be proud of. Our planet faces both finite resources and climate change, and the Eugene City Council has committed to an entire new level of local action. The impacts of climate change and increased energy costs affect all of us, regardless of politics, background, or socioeconomic status. These are not simply environmental issues. They are health, economic, social equity and environmental issues. We have learned that climate change is affected by carbon emissions, and that carbon footprints are linked to the food and goods we purchase. All of us need to rethink our consumption of goods, we consume too much and at an unsustainable rate. Our city is part of a broader community, we are part of a world that requires each of us to make significant changes in our lives as governments, businesses, and social service agencies and as individuals - we must all work together more effectively to meet these challenges and to mitigate negative impacts. Four years ago we began this journey with the Sustainable Business Initiative to foster our city’s leadership in sustainable practices, the triple bottom line of environmental stewardship, economic success and social equity. The Sustainability Commission was formed. Innovative policies and practices moved forward throughout the city, but none more ambitious than the Climate and Energy Plan. The steps outlined in this plan will not only help us reduce our contribution to climate change and improve community resilience, they will also save taxpayer dollars through improved energy efficiency and less expensive transportation options. They will help build the local economy, provide jobs, improve air quality and public health, and community livability. This plan is a true collaborative endeavor and the result of many hours of hard work. I am very appreciative of the remarkable efforts of everyone involved in its creation. Thank you all for this investment in our community. We join over 100 cities in developing emissions reduction targets and creating climate action plans. Together we are a powerful force. Each city, small and large must do its part. Eugene, though modest in size is large in its commitment to the future. We move forward with optimism and a commitment to do our part to ensure a quality future for our city, our country, and our planet. From the Mayor “These are not simply environmental issues. They are health, economic, social equity and environmental issues.” Fr o m t h e M a y o r September 2010 6 • Climate Leadership Initiative, et.al. creates report: “Preparing for Climate Change in the Upper Willamette Basin of Western Oregon” – highlighting impacts of climate change to Eugene and surrounding area • Eugene City Council instructs staff to create a Community Climate and Energy Action Plan • City of Eugene creates the first Internal (city operations) Climate Action Plan 20 0 9 Eugene Sustain- able Business Initiative recom- mends creation of 1) sustainability commission and 2) metropolitan climate action plan 20 0 6 State of Oregon Goal: Reduce greenhouse gas emissions 75% below 1990 levels Oregon legislature first establishes carbon- reduction goal Rio Earth Summit (United Nations framework convention on climate change) Kyoto protocol • Eugene Mayor signs the US conference of Mayors “US mayor’s climate protection agreement”, striving locally to meet or beat the Kyoto protocol targets • City of Eugene creates a greenhouse gas inventory for internal municipal operations • Oregon strategy for Greenhouse Gas Reductions completed • Eugene sustainabil- ity commission is established • “City of Portland Descending the Oil Peak” report highlights challenges of fossil fuel depletion • City of Eugene completes a commu- nity greenhouse gas inventory City of Eugene works with community partners to create Eugene’s first Community Climate and Energy Action Plan State of Oregon Goal: Reduce greenhouse gas emissions 10% below 1990 levels City of Eugene Goal: Reduce overall community fossil fuel use 50% below 2005 levels 19 8 9 19 9 2 19 9 7 20 0 5 20 0 7 20 1 0 20 2 0 20 5 0 20 3 0 Photo by Kazuaki Fuse CE A P T i m e l i n e a n d G o a l s Timeline and Goals 7 PreParing For Change In the winter of 2008/2009, Eugene’s City Council unanimously directed staff to develop a Community Climate and Energy Action Plan (CEAP).[4] All City operations and City-owned facilities were to be carbon-neutral by 2020. During the same year, the Council committed the City to work with its partners to develop a plan to set carbon emission goals, to suggest effective emission reduction strategies, and to identify ways in which the community can adapt to the anticipated changes. Four months later, the Council expanded the action plan to include steps for achieving a 50 percent reduction in community-wide fossil fuel consumption by 2030. This plan is the product of those efforts to understand what climate change and fuel cost increases could mean for Eugene, and to find ways that lessen the expected impacts and meet the goals for reducing emissions and fossil fuel consumption. While there is considerable discussion and some debate on the issues of climate change in the community and beyond, this plan was undertaken in response to Council direction and is informed by the scientific evidence available at the time of its publishing. The CommuniTy ClimaTe and energy aCTion Plan (CeaP) Goals 1. Reduce community-wide greenhouse gas emissions to 10 percent less than 1990 levels by 2020 and 75 percent below 1990 levels by 2050.[5] 2. Reduce community-wide fossil fuel use 50 percent by 2030.[6] 3. Identify strategies that will help the community adapt to a changing climate and increasing fossil fuel prices.[7] Geographic Scope and Timeline Citizens, topic experts and partners from inside and outside of the City of Eugene were invited to develop a plan for the broader community. This public engagement process identified challenges and opportunities and presented options and action items that will require partnerships and joint efforts across the community. The CEAP establishes general directions and offers specific actions over the next three to five years; however, the scientific and general community’s understanding of climate and energy challenges are evolving rapidly and Eugene’s direction and goals will likely need to be updated. Introduction [4] More policy detail and background can be found in Appendix 9. [5] This goal matches Oregon’s stated GHG reduc- tion targets from House Bill 3543. While this target is not equivalent to the fossil fuel reduction target, it reflects the degree of GHG reductions that are necessary, according to scientific research. Additional discussion of relative greenhouse gas targets begins on page 14 of Appendix 8. [6] This goal, unanimously adopted by Eugene City Council February 2009, will use the base year 2005, the year of data used for the 2007 com-munity greenhouse gas inventory. [7] The full text of the City Council directives re- lated to the CEAP can be found in Appendix 9. In t r o d u c t i o n 8 how was The Plan develoPed? The Climate and Energy Action Plan Advisory Team The CEAP advisory team was assembled in May 2009 and was composed of 11 community members and representatives of partner agencies. In June 2009, the team began providing input on the public outreach and general planning processes. The group brought expertise to the public meetings, observed and participated in topic discussions, provided feedback on the development of the plan and the plan document, and provided background data. Team Member Partner Agency/Group Chuck Gottfried City of Springfield Sarah Mazze Resource Innovation Group and The UO Climate Leadership Initiative Joshua Proudfoot Eugene Area Chamber of Commerce Jason Heuser Eugene Water and Electric Board David Hinkley Friends of Eugene Lorraine Kerwood/Twila Souers Eugene Human Rights Commission Joe McCormack Lane Transit District Mike McKenzie-Bahr Lane County Jan Wostmann Neighborhood Leaders Council Heidi Beierle/Bill Randall City of Eugene Planning Commission Shawn Boles City of Eugene Sustainability Commission The Public Engagement Process News releases, print and online calendars, website announcements, and emails invited members of the public to participate in seven public forums. A kickoff event was held in September 2009 and one public forum was held on each of the six topics between October 2009 and March 2010. More than 500 members of the public participated, sharing concerns about climate uncertainty and fuel price volatility, and weighing in on what should be the community’s highest priorities. Below are the six topics or action areas: H Buildings and Energy H Food and Agriculture H Land Use and Transportation H Consumption and Waste H Health and Social Services H Urban Natural Resources In t r o d u c t i o n 9 The process for identifying action items for each of the six topic areas was as follows: 1. A strategy list was compiled using information submitted by regional experts and gleaned from municipal- and state-level climate and energy plans from across the nation. The list was reviewed by the topic specialists, refined, and then used as a starting place for the public forums. 2. Topic specialists were identified from across the community. Eight to twelve expert community members with broad knowledge of the topic and the ability to bring a variety of perspectives to the public forums were invited to assist with the plan. The topic specialists contributed to the development of the strategy lists, provided technical information support at the public forums, and assisted with the prioritization of strategies. A complete list of Topic Specialists can be found in Appendix 3. 3. Public forums were held to engage members of the community who are interested in climate and energy challenges as they relate to each of the six topics. Each of the forums were attended by 50 to 120 community members, including topic specialists, CEAP advisory team members, neighborhood leaders, and Sustainability Commissioners. Forum participants reviewed the strategy list for the subject topic, provided perspectives on which actions should be given the highest priority, identified missing actions or strategies, and provided detail on how individual actions could be implemented. 4. Topic specialists reviewed proposed actions in greater detail, provided input on priorities, clarified ideas, identified opportunities and challenges, and helped to ground the process in Eugene’s unique economic, social, and environmental conditions. 5. Advisory team members weighed information from background documents, input from the public forums and the topic specialist meetings, and offered their varied perspectives on each topic area. The team completed a final review of the strategies and reviewed and commented on the draft Community Climate and Energy Action Plan. 6. Additional Research was conducted after the draft was released to clarify some of the relative costs and benefits of actions. This adds confidence that the priorities included in the plan are the best places for our community to take action. Targets and measures were also added.[8] This information is compiled in the attached spreadsheet, Appendix 1. The ouTComes Of the several hundred possible action items suggested, reviewed, and discussed in the public engagement process, the plan only includes those that are expected to best reduce fossil fuel consumption and GHG emissions, and to prepare Eugene for the impacts of energy price volatility and climate uncertainty. A strict cost-benefit analysis wasn’t feasible, but the project team designed a process that weighs the relative importance of potential actions in the context of the three stated goals. [8] The targets associated with objectives and actions in the Plan reflect best estimates of the re- ductions necessary. Creating targets that are care- fully calibrated to the overall GHG and fossil fuel reduction goals will require additional research. In t r o d u c t i o n 10 whaT haPPens nexT? Funding: In the 2011 fiscal year budget, $200,000 of one-time funding was earmarked for use in implementing both the Community Climate and Energy Action Plan and the City’s Diversity and Equity Strategic Plan. These funds are in addition to the work already underway across the City organization in Solid Waste management, the Green Building program, Stormwater Management, Urban Forestry, and many other existing City programs. Reporting back: The City Council will receive annual reports assessing the progress being made on each of the multiple objectives included in the plan. Updating the plan: Our understanding of the complex issues around climate change and greenhouse gas sources is continually improving, and as our community moves forward on the priorities included in this plan, it will be important to revisit, revise, and update Eugene’s Community Climate and Energy Action Plan every three to five years. how is The CommuniTy ClimaTe and energy aCTion Plan organized? The strategies are divided into six action areas. The first four are the primary targets for greenhouse gas emissions and fossil fuel reductions, and the last two focus on actions necessary to adapt to climate change and rising fuel prices. H Buildings and Energy H Food and Agriculture H Land Use and Transportation H Consumption and Waste H Health and Social Services H Urban Natural Resources Please note that the actions in each area are not organized by priority. The first action in each section is not necessarily the most important, nor is the last the least important. A table containing all of the actions and associated targets, measures, estimated financial impacts, and estimated greenhouse gas reductions data is available in the Compiled Priority Action Items Tables in Appendix 1. Terms in italics are defined in the glossary located in Appendix 2. In t r o d u c t i o n City of Ashland City Council 20 East Main St. Ashland, Oregon 97520 March 5th, 2015 Re: Climate and Energy Action Plan Dear City of Ashland City Council, It is with great pleasure that we extend the support of Rogue Climate to the Conservation Commission and the City Council to develop a Clean Energy and Climate Action plan for the City of Ashland. Cities and counties across the country are taking the lead in stepping up to the challenge of climate change and transitioning to cleaner energy. Due to Ashland’s municipally owned utility, Ashland’s strong history of leading the state in terms of energy efficiency, and the local impacts we are already feeling in regards to climate change, we are in a great position to take the next step by developing a Community Energy and Climate Action Plan. We look forward to supporting Ashland in these efforts, and believe that any efforts taken in Ashland will have a positive impact in demonstrating to other communities in the Rogue Valley what is possible. We will support this effort by using our network to educate local citizens about the initiative. We will promote participation to our members both through email and at meetings. We can help with publicity efforts by writing about it on our website and facebook page. We can provide a volunteer or staff member to sit on the advisory council and we will continue to work with the conservation commission to find other appropriate roles for our group as they arise. Sincerely, Hannah Sohl
 Director, Rogue Climate PO Box 1980 Phoenix, Oregon 97535 (541)-840-1065 Info@rogueclimate.org City of Ashland City Council 20 East Main St. Ashland, Oregon 97520 March 9th, 2015 Re: Climate and Energy Action Plan Dear City of Ashland City Council, Oregon Action would like to express our support to the Ashland City Council and the Conservation Commission for your desire and efforts to develop a Clean Energy and Climate Action plan for the City of Ashland. As a grassroots, member-led organization dedicated to advancing economic, racial, health, and social equity for everyone throughout the Rogue Valley, we recognize that climate change does not and will not affect everyone equally. Those members of our community already vulnerable or marginalized will likely be hit sooner and harder by the impacts of climate change in the Rogue Valley and will have fewer resources to adapt to a changing climate. We believe our collective efforts to combat climate change—such as municipal Climate and Energy plans—need to account for this. Those most directly affected—including low-income members of our community and those with limited access to political processes—need to be at the table and a part of the process of developing solutions and strategies to address climate change. As such, we appreciate the emphasis put on collaboration and community engagement in the Conservation Commission’s recommendations to the City Council, and we look forward to engaging our members, supporters, and the broader community in the planning process. We believe Ashland is in a unique position to take bold leadership as a community in responding to climate change, and we are proud to see Ashland moving forward with that process. Oregon Action and our members look forward to supporting the City in these efforts, and to participating and engaging in that process. Sincerely, Alex Budd
 Oregon Action 33 N Central Ave Medford, Oregon 97501 (541)-772-4029 alex@oregonaction.org Minutes for the City Council Study Session September 15, 2014 Page 1 of2 MINUTES FOR THE STUDY SESSION ASHLAND CITY COUNCIL Monday, September 15, 2014 Siskiyou Room, 51 Winburn Way Mayor Stromberg called the meeting to order at 5:32 p.m. in the Siskiyou Room. Councilor Morris, Rosenthal, Marsh, Voisin, and Lemhouse were present. Councilor Slattery was absent. 1. Look Ahead review City Administrator Dave Kanner reviewed items on the Look Ahead. 2. Public Input (15 minutes maximum) Winston Friedman/935 Oak Street/Thanked the Council for considering the resolution supporting fossil fuel divestment. Southern Oregon Climate Action Now (SOCAN) was a group that strongly supported divestment and were concerned with the bigger picture of climate change. He read from a document submitted into record on the impacts of climate change, fossil fuel extraction and how major corporations negatively affected sustainability efforts. Ken Deveney/206 Terrace Street/Spoke in support of the Conservation Commission's Community Sustainability Framework proposal and explained mental health was a major component of climate change preparedness. Many people will experience stress that could result in an increase of domestic abuse and crime due to the heat. The climate change will affect illness, food prices, changes in employment, and acute trauma from extreme weather events. The National Wildlife Federation collaborated on a report regarding the psychological effects of climate change that stated the affects of global warming will require a large-scale mental health care response and no one was prepared. 3. Discussion of a Resolution in support of fossil fuel divestment City Recorder Barbara Christensen explained the resolution would not change the City's investment policy and only support the position Southern Oregon Climate Action Now (SOCAN) was taking on fossil fuel divestment. SOCAN was asking Council to move the resolution to a regular Council meeting for approval. If approved, the resolution would go to the Oregon Short Term Board and the Public Employee Retirement System (PERS). Ms. Christensen used the City of Eugene's resolution on divestment as a template for the one before Council. Council noted an opinion editorial from State Treasurer Ted Wheeler that concluded divestment was not in the best interest of the state. That made the resolution more of a symbolic gesture. However, an earlier conversation with Mr. Wheeler and the governor revealed they needed the support of municipalities in order to give the resolution power. The Mayor expressed concern regarding unintended results due to divestment. Council supported putting the resolution on a formal agenda. 4. Community Sustainability Framework proposal from the Conservation Commission Management Analyst Adam Hanks provided history on the Conservation Commission's interest and efforts regarding sustainability. With the approval of the Operational Sustainability Plan Framework, Plan Format, and Process Outline November 2012, the Commission shifted focus to a community sustainability plan using the STAR Framework. Conservation Commission Vice Chair Roxane Beigel-Coryell defined sustainable as something able to be Minutes for the City Council Study Session September 15, 2014 Page 2 of 2 used without being completely used up or destroyed involving methods that did not completely use up or destroy natural resources or able to last or continue for a long time. A sustainable community included common elements that were healthy environment, strong economy, and the well-being of the people living in the community. She shared several guiding principles of sustainable communities. Conservation Commissioner Jim McGinnis provided an overview ofthe STAR Framework that consisted of Guiding Principles, Goals, Objectives, Measures, and Actions. STAR was Sustainability Tools for Assessing and Rating communities. The STAR Framework was a current and comprehensive way to track and assess sustainability. The STAR approach represented a multiyear process and was not a plan. The Guiding Principles served as a reference point when planning or taking actions. The STAR Framework was based on the following goals: Built Environment Climate & Energy Education, Arts & Community Economy & Jobs Equity & Empowerment Health & Safety Natural Systems Each goal contained several objectives with measurable items and best practices. Vice Chair Beigel-Coryell reviewed a matrix of goals and actions taken by the City and Southern Oregon University (SOU) and submitted an example of Climate & Energy and Health & Safety into the record. Commissioner McGinnis further explained the Conservation Commission had followed through on the 2011-2012 City Goal of developing a concise sustainability plan for city operations and community. The city operation was underway and the next step was the community portion. The STAR Framework created a network with other communities. The Conservation Commission was asking Council to adopt the framework as a successor to the Valdez Principles, instruct staff to provide regular reporting within the STAR Framework, and allocate adequate resources to administer the program. Resource allocation would start with half of a Full Time Equivalent (FTE) employee for the 2015-2017 budget and grow to a FTE in the 2017-2019 budget. Council comments thought the STAR Framework was too broad and complex, wanted the focus on Climate and Energy only while other comments noted STAR could serve as a good resource. Council directed the Conservation Commission to bring back a proposal on what steps they would take to develop a Climate and Energy Plan. Meeting adjourned at 7:18 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Dana Smith Assistant to the City Recorder City Council Study Session March 16, 2015 Page 1 of 4 MINUTES FOR THE STUDY SESSION ASHLAND CITY COUNCIL Monday, March 16, 2015 Siskiyou Room, 51 Winburn Way Mayor Stromberg called the meeting to order at 5:35 p.m. in the Siskiyou Room. Councilor Lemhouse, Morris, Rosenthal, Voisin, Seffinger, and Marsh were present. 1. Public Input (15 minutes maximum) - (None) 2. Look Ahead review City Administrator Dave Kanner reviewed items on the Look Ahead. 3. WISE Project Update Steve Mason, program manager for Water for Irrigation Streams and Economy (WISE) explained WISE was a new irrigation infrastructure project that would pipe irrigation throughout the Rogue Valley. The Bureau of Reclamation owned half of the 35,000 acres of water including the Talent Irrigation District (TID). Rogue Valley received approximately 30,000-acre feet of water from the Klamath Basin annually. He explained water flow throughout the valley and provided a presentation that included the following: Why Wise?  2001 Water crisis in Klamath Basin  Protect Agriculture amid urban growth  Protect and restore local streams How WISE?  Proactive approach  Inclusive partnerships  Think big  Long term solutions: Technology, Economies, Regulations WISE Project Goals  Increase summer stream flows  Improve water quality  Improve water temperature  Improved irrigation water reliability  Improved irrigation water availability WISE Project Area Map Possible Sources of Additional Water  Conserved Water: Piped/lined irrigation canals o Increased reservoir storage capacity: Agate  Pumped water o Regional Water Reclamation Facility o Lost Creek Reservoir via Rogue River WISE Piping Layouts Map Specific Irrigation Benefits  Conserved water available for irrigation: 22,297 – 30,998 – 39710 (A/F) Piping open canals would save 31,000-acre feet of water in a normal weather year. City Council Study Session March 16, 2015 Page 2 of 4  Gravity pressure system  Reduced shortages: 77 – 4,674 – 8,019 (A/F)  Extended drought protection  More flexible water availability  Minimal moss and algae in system  Greatly reduced canal/pipe maintenance  Hydropower generation Instream Benefits  More water instream  Potentially increased flows in tribs o 2,103 – 9,895 – 20,207 (A/F) o Stored water component in reservoirs o Conserved water from surface rights o Water exchange from reuse component  Elimination of mixed canal and live flows  Significantly improved water quality Ashland Creek had a diversion accessed by the irrigation district. The WISE project would eliminate the need for the diversion and the water would remain in the creek. Water rights would stay the same. Conversion reduction would significantly decrease fertilizers getting into the water. People getting their water from the streams would have new laterals and require easements. Issues  Stormwater management  Perceptions regarding use of Reclaimed effluent  Environmental impacts – vernal pools, wetlands, canal-side vegetation  Shallow wells WISE Project Timeline  2010 – Complete Prefeasibility Study  2012 – Begin Cost Benefit Analysis  2014 – Being FS/EIS  2015 – Complete CBA  2015 – Construct WISE Pilot Project  2016 – Complete FS/EIS The project would pipe most of the canals coming from Immigrant Creek to Starlite Place. From Starlite Place on there was a chance for Ecoli and unless the City piped, those influences would continue. Mr. Mason confirmed no piping until the power plant. They would line some of the canals coming from the mountain lakes. Piping the water would not affect wildlife. Currently, the canals were dry for six months each year already. Riparian areas and wetlands would be significantly healthier and fish instream would do well. Private water users would not see a change in their water rights. Funding would from the Bureau of Reclamation, WISE, the state, developers and commercial growers. 4. Ashland Conservation Commission – Community Climate and Energy Action Plan proposal Conservation Commissioner Jim McGinnis provided the background on the Council goal for sustainability planning, the Conservation Commission’s framework proposal, and Council’s earlier request for the Commission to determine the steps needed to develop a climate and energy action plan. City Council Study Session March 16, 2015 Page 3 of 4 The Conservation Commission reviewed several plans from other communities. Highlights from the overall assessment was that both the community and city government were involved in the planning and implementation process that was sponsored and lead by city or county government. They dedicated sustainability staff to lead the process, performed communitywide greenhouse gas assessments and set local emission targets to align with state emission targets. Activities that would fit well in Ashland included community workshops and meetings, education on climate change, goals and strategies for the next 5, 20, and 50 years, and adaptation strategies integrated with mitigation strategies. Conservation Commissioner Brian Sohl addressed the Eugene Climate and Energy Plan adopted by the City of Eugene. The Plan contained four initial goals and targets. Goal 1 was all city operations and facilities were carbon-neutral by 2020. Goal 2 aligned targets for greenhouse gas emissions reductions with the state. The third goal would reduce levels of fossil fuel use 50% by 2030. Goal 4 identified adaptation strategies for climate change. City of Eugene staff identified six action areas that included Buildings and Energy, Food and Agriculture, Land Use and Transportation, Consumption and Waste, Health and Social Services and Urban Natural Resources. Eugene established a Climate and Energy Action Plan Advisory Team and a public engagement process that involved each of the six action areas. Eugene City Council endorsed the plan instead of formally adopting it due to the detail. When the plan went into implementation, the City of Eugene hired another staff person. Commissioner Sohl went on to explain how actions taken by two Eugene citizens group called Our Children’s Trust and the Youth Climate Action Now (YouCan) resulted in a climate recovery ordinance passed July 2014. By 2030 the city organization, businesses, and residents living or working in Eugene will collectively reduce fossil fuels 50%. Conservation Commission Chair Marni Koopman addressed next steps, explained the plan needed to be community driven, collaborative, and recommended an oversight group with members from different sectors. The group would deal with greenhouse gas emission, hunger, homelessness, air quality, water shortages, and traffic congestion. Local experts would help set greenhouse gas emissions targets for the community. Another important component of the plan was ongoing outreach. The plan was iterative with reassessments occurring every three years. The planet would already experience 30 years of worsening climate change. Emission cuts would prevent the most serious consequences 50-100 years from now. It would take a long time to change. The Commission estimated the effort would require .5 FTE full time equivalent (FTE) in staff time or the equivalent in contractor assistance during this biennium to manage the development of the plan in year one and implement the plan year two in the spring of 2016. The Conservation Commission would include the senior community for transportation input. The education component would begin with the kick off in 2015. They would use similar tactics used in the economic development strategy to form the committee and contact local experts. If the committee formed through the City, the Mayor would participate in appointing members. The Commission was not sure how the City would handle the consequences for missed goals. Eugene City Council endorsed the plan and adopted the ordinance later. The ordinance had three mandates that provided more flexibility. The departments for the City of Eugene were responsible for meeting goals. City Administrator Dave Kanner explained a contracted .5 FTE was the better option for City staff. Mr. McGinnis noted the STAR framework the Conservation Commission proposed to Council previously and explained the Commission would address the framework during the process. City Council Study Session March 16, 2015 Page 4 of 4 Mr. Kanner would include the plan in the budget. A Council appointed committee made it subject to public meetings laws. Staff could add the committee to the website. The City would form the committee first then hire a contract consultant to facilitate the process. Council and Mayor expressed concern that the plan have actual actions the City and community could initiate and complete within a short period. One comment suggested including the work the Ashland Forest Resiliency (AFR) performed as part of the plan. 5. Discussion of utility billing surcharge for Ashland Forest Resiliency project Councilor Marsh was interested in further developing a utility fee as a long term funding mechanism for the Ashland Forest Resiliency (AFR). There was a significant nexus between watershed health that enabled the municipal water system and a utility fee. The fee would be transparent and dedicated. Increasing property taxes would not allow the City to dedicate specific funds to the watershed since the funds went into the General Fund. There was concern the fee was regressive. Councilor Marsh thought it could be structured to become less regressive. This already occurred in the fee structure for storm water. It would cost an estimated $1.50 per residential household with a gradation that implemented different fee structures for commercial and government. City Administrator Dave Kanner explained a utility tax had the advantage of bringing in revenue from a broader base because everyone depended on the watershed, but not everyone paid property tax. Having a flat fee was regressive. The City could use a methodology where larger water users paid more. It would not be exact. The City could look at meter size or charge a percentage of use but that was difficult to manage. Another possible issue were individuals refusing to pay the surcharge. Was Council willing to shut off someone’s water if that happened. If Council approved a utility tax, he recommended it as a watershed maintenance fee instead of a fuels reduction fee. Forest Resource Specialist Chris Chambers addressed other funding options. The US Forest Service hosted Collaborative Forest Restoration Partnerships that affected larger landscapes and consisted of $4,000,000. It would require a mobilized regional effort to apply and was a possibility in the future. The Merkley-Wyden bipartisan bill protected the existing money and did not create a new funding source. The state had the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board grant that provided a smaller amount, approximately $3,700. Mr. Kanner explained increasing the existing water fund fee 1% would produce $50,000-$60,000 in revenue. Council wanted to see more funding options, future grants, ways to make the utility fee more progressive, and the possibility of a two-year sunset on the fee with the potential to extend. Other comments preferred a fixed amount on the utility bill and that it applied to everyone. Meeting adjourned at 7:16 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Dana Smith Assistant to the City Recorder     CLIMATE  ACTION  PLAN   for   Corvallis,  Oregon     Prepared  by  the   Corvallis  Climate  Action   Plan  Task  Force         January  2015     Corvallis  Climate  Action  Plan  –  www.CorvallisCAP.org  2   Corvallis  Climate  Action  Plan   Contents   Introduction ..........................................................................................................................................................3   Why  a  Climate  Action  Plan?...................................................................................................................................................3   The  Opportunity  for  Climate  Prosperity ...........................................................................................................................5   A  Vision  for  Today,  2020,  and  Beyond ...............................................................................................................................5   The  Corvallis  Climate  Action  Plan ..................................................................................................................9   Plan  Development.......................................................................................................................................................................9   Equity  Principles ......................................................................................................................................................................11   Plan  Scope  and  Organization .............................................................................................................................................12   What  Happens  Next?..............................................................................................................................................................15   Buildings  and  Energy ..................................................................................................................................................18   Land  Use  and  Transportation..................................................................................................................................22   Consumption  and  Solid  Waste ................................................................................................................................27   Food  and  Agriculture...................................................................................................................................................32   Health  and  Social  Services.........................................................................................................................................37   Urban  Natural  Resources ..........................................................................................................................................41   Appendix  A:  Climate  Change  in  the  Northwest .......................................................................................46   Appendix  B:  Climate  Planning  and  the  Corvallis  Vision ......................................................................50   Appendix  C:  Efforts  Already  Underway  in  Corvallis..............................................................................54   Appendix  D:  Corvallis  Community  Greenhouse  Gas  Inventory  Methodology..............................58   Appendix  E:  State  of  Oregon  Climate  and  Energy  Policy .....................................................................59   Appendix  F:  Advisory  Panel ..........................................................................................................................62   Appendix  G:  Glossary.......................................................................................................................................65   Appendix  H:  Appreciations............................................................................................................................71               Cover  photo  by  Masakazu  Matsumoto,  creative  commons  licence       Corvallis  Climate  Action  Plan  –  www.CorvallisCAP.org  3   Introduction   Nearly  15  years  ago,  Corvallis  agreed  to  work  collaboratively  with  other  cities  and  agencies  to   address  climate  change  by  signing  on  to  the  Cities  for  Climate  Protection  campaign  (2000).  The  City   pledged  to  take  a  leadership  role  in  increasing  energy  efficiency  and  reducing  greenhouse  gas   emissions  from  municipal  operations  and  to  develop  and  implement  a  local  climate  action  plan   outlining  steps  for  the  community  to  reduce  greenhouse  gas  (GHG)  emissions.  Corvallis  made   similar  commitments  when  it  subsequently  signed  the  U.S.  Mayors  Climate  Protection  Agreement   (2005)  and  became  a  member  of  ICLEI—Local  Governments  for  Sustainability  (2008)  (see  Figure   1).  The  City  has  taken  many  actions  to  increase  energy  efficiency  and  completed  municipal  and   community  greenhouse  gas  inventories,  but  it  has  yet  to  develop  a  climate  action  plan.       Why  a  Climate  Action  Plan?   On  November  2,  2014,  the  U.N.  Intergovernmental  Panel  on  Climate  Change  (IPCC)  released  the   “synthesis”  report  of  its  fifth  full  scientific  climate  assessment  since  1990.  More  than  100   governments  signed  off  line  by  line  on  this  review  of  more  than  30,000  studies  on  climate  science,   impacts,  and  solutions.  In  the  report,  the  world’s  top  scientists  and  governments  issued  their   bluntest  plea  yet  to  the  world:  Slash  carbon  pollution  now  or  risk  “severe,  pervasive  and   irreversible  impacts  for  people  and  ecosystems.”1  The  risks  include  substantial  species  extinction,   global  and  regional  food  insecurity,  and  consequential  constraints  on  common  human  activities,   such  as  growing  food  and  working  outdoors.  Scientists  have  “high  confidence”  that  these   devastating  impacts  will  occur—“even  with  adaptation”—if  we  keep  doing  little  or  nothing.     The  IPCC  report  and  others  make  clear  that  climate  change  is  already  leaving  its  mark  and  that   future  generations  cannot  plausibly  undo  the  damage  already  done:  carbon  dioxide  and  other   greenhouse  gases  currently  in  the  atmosphere  and  produced  today  will  remain  and  continue  to   affect  the  climate  for  decades.  The  IPCC  echoes  the  warnings  of  the  National  Climate  Assessment   (NCA)  report  released  in  May  by  the  U.S.  Global  Change  Research  Program.  The  Assessment   outlines  the  effects  climate  change  is  having  in  the  United  States  and  the  dire  consequences  that  can   be  expected  if  no  action  is  taken  to  mitigate  global  warming:   Climate  change,  once  considered  an  issue  for  a  distant  future,  has  moved  firmly  into  the  present.   Corn  producers  in  Iowa,  oyster  growers  in  Washington  State,  and  maple  syrup  producers  in   Vermont  are  all  observing  climate-­related  changes  that  are  outside  of  recent  experience.  So,  too,   are  coastal  planners  in  Florida,  water  managers  in  the  arid  Southwest,  city  dwellers  from  Phoenix   to  New  York,  and  Native  Peoples  on  tribal  lands  from  Louisiana  to  Alaska.2                                                                                                                             1  “Climate  Change  2014  Synthesis  Report,”  IPCC  Fifth  Assessment  Synthesis  Report,  November  2014:   http://www.ipcc.ch/pdf/assessment-­‐report/ar5/syr/SYR_AR5_SPM.pdf.   2  National  Climate  Assessment,  U.S.  Global  Change  Research  Program,  May  2014:   http://nca2014.globalchange.gov/report/regions/northwest.     Corvallis  Climate  Action  Plan  –  www.CorvallisCAP.org  4   The  Corvallis  area  will  see  a  number  of  important  changes:   • Average  annual  temperatures  will  increase  by  8  to  12º  F  by  around  2080.   • Reduced  snowpack  and  changing  snowmelt  will  result  in  lower  stream  flows  in  summer.   This  will  reduce  the  availability  of  irrigation  water  even  as  higher  temperatures  increase   the  demand  for  water  for  agricultural  uses.   • More  intense  storms  (rain  and  snow)  will  increase  flood  risk  and  stormwater  management   challenges.   • Increased  river  flooding  and  winter  flows,  decreased  summer  flows,  and  higher  stream   temperatures  will  threaten  many  species,  particularly  salmon,  steelhead,  and  trout.   • Field  crops,  fruit  trees,  and  livestock  will  face  an  increased  probability  of  heat  stress.   • The  combined  impacts  of  increasing  wildfire,  insect  outbreaks,  and  tree  diseases  will   increase  forest  mortality  and  transform  forest  landscapes.   • Humans  will  suffer  higher  rates  of  heat-­‐related  illness,  exhaustion,  asthma,  and  respiratory   diseases.  3,4   (See  Appendix  A  for  more  detail  on  how  climate  change  will  affect  the  Pacific  Northwest.)   In  addition  to  these  physical  impacts,  climate  change  is  expected  to  have  significant  financial   impacts,  particularly  if  it  accelerates  and  if  we  don’t  prepare  for  the  impacts.  Multiple  studies   illustrate  why  it  is  necessary  to  act  on  climate  change  as  soon  as  possible:   • An  Overview  of  Potential  Economic  Costs  to  Oregon  of  a  Business-­As-­Usual  Approach  to   Climate  Change  says,  “If  spread  evenly,  Oregon’s  households,  on  average,  could  incur  annual   costs  of  $1,930  per  year  by  2020.  Of  this  amount,  $830  relate  to  expenditures  on  energy,   $460  relate  to  health-­‐related  costs,  and  $370  to  the  adverse  effects  of  climate  change  on   salmon  populations.  These  costs  are  not  negligible.  The  2020  average  of  $1,930  represents   more  than  4  percent  of  the  current  median  household  income  in  Oregon.”  5   • The  White  House  Council  of  Economic  Advisors  estimates  that  the  US  will  suffer   $150  billion  in  economic  damages  each  year  if  we  fail  to  prevent  global  temperatures  from   increasing  two  degrees  Celsius  above  pre-­‐industrial  levels.  6   • The  Risky  Business  Project  determined  that  a  "business  as  usual"  approach  to  climate   change  will  cost  the  nation  up  to  $507  billion  in  property  damages  by  2100.  7                                                                                                                             3  Preparing  for  Climate  Change  in  the  Upper  Willamette  River  Basin  of  Western  Oregon:  Co-­Beneficial  Planning   for  Communities  and  Ecosystems,  US  Department  of  Agriculture,  Climate  Leadership  Initiative,  and  National   Center  for  Conservation  Science  and  Policy,  March  2009:  http://uonews.uoregon.edu/sites/uonews2.wc-­‐ sites.uoregon.edu/files/uploads/UpperWillamette_REPORT.pdf     4  National  Climate  Assessment,  2014.   5  An  Overview  of  Potential  Economic  Costs  to  Oregon  of  a  Business-­As-­Usual  Approach  to  Climate  Change,   Climate  Leadership  Initiative,  University  of  Oregon,  February  2009:   http://uonews.uoregon.edu/sites/uonews2.wc-­‐sites.uoregon.edu/files/uploads/OR-­‐Fnl_Rpt.pdf.     6  The  Cost  of  Delaying  Action  To  Stem  Climate  Change,  White  House  Council  of  Economic  Advisors,  July  2014:   http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/docs/the_cost_of_delaying_action_to_stem_climate_change.p df.     7  Risky  Business:  The  Economic  Risks  of  Climate  Change  in  the  United  States,  Risky  Business  Project,  June  2014:   http://riskybusiness.org/uploads/files/RiskyBusiness_PrintedReport_FINAL_WEB_OPTIMIZED.pdf.       Corvallis  Climate  Action  Plan  –  www.CorvallisCAP.org  5   The  Opportunity  for  Climate  Prosperity   As  alarming  as  the  IPCC  synthesis  report  is,  it  is  also  hopeful.  The  world’s  top  scientists  and   governments  make  clear—as  they  have  in  a  number  of  previous  reports—that  the  cost  of  action  is   relatively  trivial:  “Mitigation  scenarios  that  are  likely  to  limit  warming  to  below  2°C”  entail  “an   annualized  reduction  of  consumption  growth  by  0.04  to  0.14  (median:  0.06)  percentage  points  over   the  century  relative  to  annualized  consumption  growth  in  the  baseline  that  is  between  1.6  percent   and  3  percent  per  year  (high  confidence).”  In  other  words,  the  cost  of  even  the  most  aggressive   action—the  kind  needed  to  stave  off  irreversible  disaster—is  so  low  that  it  would  not  noticeably   change  the  growth  curve  of  the  world  economy  this  century.  The  authors  say  with  high  confidence   that  reducing  annual  consumption  growth  as  little  as,  for  example,  2.4  percent  per  year  down  to   2.34  percent  per  year,  would  be  effective  in  limiting  warming.     Other  reports  suggest  that  taking  action  now  will  result  in  significant  savings.  “Washington  Western   Climate  Initiative  Economic  Impact  Analysis”8  and  “Pathways  to  a  Low-­‐Carbon  Economy,”9  suggest   that  reducing  energy  use  and  preparing  for  climate  change  will  quickly  save  citizens,  businesses,   and  governments  millions  of  dollars  by  reducing  energy  costs  and  creating  sorely  needed  jobs.   Recognizing  the  risks  and  opportunities  that  climate  change  poses,  cities  all  over  the  country   are  committing  to  address  climate  change  at  the  local  level.  By  implementing  innovative   programs  to  reduce  the  GHG  emissions,  or  “carbon  footprint”  of  government  operations  and  the   community,  they  also  are  saving  money  and  improving  the  economic,  environmental  and  social   sustainability  of  their  communities.   A  Vision  for  Today,  2020,  and  Beyond   In  1997,  our  community  articulated  its  desired  future  in  the  Corvallis  2020  Vision  Statement.10   Although  it  was  adopted  the  same  year  as  the  Kyoto  Protocol,  the  Vision  Statement  does  not   specifically  address  climate  change;  at  that  time,  most  Americans  simply  did  not  believe  that  global   warming  was  going  to  affect  them  in  their  lifetimes.11  However,  the  seven  focus  areas  of  the  Vision   Statement  provide  many  openings  for  emissions  reduction  (see  Appendix  B  for  details).  Anticipated   updates  of  the  Corvallis  2020  Vision  Statement,  the  Comprehensive  Plan,  and  the  Transportation   System  Plan—along  with  development  of  a  climate  action  plan—offer  opportunities  for  our   community  to  respond  to  the  challenge  of  climate  change  with  a  new  vision  of  integrated  action,  led   by  local  government  in  partnership  with  business  and  civil  society.                                                                                                                             8  Washington  Western  Climate  Initiative  Economic  Impact  Analysis,  ECONorthwest,  February  2010:   http://www.ecy.wa.gov/climatechange/docs/20100707_wci_econanalysis.pdf.     9  Pathways  to  a  Low-­Carbon  Economy:  Version  2  of  the  Global  Greenhouse  Gas  Abatement  Cost  Curve,  McKinsey   and  Company,  2009:  download  from   http://www.mckinsey.com/client_service/sustainability/latest_thinking/greenhouse_gas_abatement_cost_cu rves.     10  Corvallis  2020  Vision  Statement:   http://www.corvallisoregon.gov/modules/showdocument.aspx?documentid=14     11  “Americans'  Global  Warming  Concerns  Continue  to  Drop,”  Gallup  Politics,  March  11,  2010,   www.gallup.com/poll/126560/americans-­‐global-­‐warming-­‐concerns-­‐continue-­‐drop.aspx.     Corvallis  Climate  Action  Plan  –  www.CorvallisCAP.org  6   This  Climate  Action  Plan  is  an  attempt  to  create  a  framework  that  offers  direction  and  focus  on  the   most  serious  threat  facing  the  world  today  and  to  set  priorities  and  a  course  for  progress  for  our   community.  Drawing  on  similar  plans  developed  by  other  cities,  the  state  of  Oregon  and  other   states,  it  pinpoints  issues  critically  important  not  only  to  reducing  greenhouse  gas  emissions,  but  to   maintaining  our  quality  of  life  in  the  face  of  a  changing  climate  that  threatens  food  and  water   sources,  power  supplies,  public  safety  and  health,  forests  and  local  economies.  Identifying  strategies   and  actions  that  can  feasibly  and  effectively  reduce  our  community’s  greenhouse  gas  emissions   would  achieve  numerous  benefits  that  not  only  would  move  Corvallis  toward  realizing  its  2020   vision  but  also  would  build  a  more  secure  and  resilient  community  for  future  generations.     Corvallis  Climate  Action  Plan  –  www.CorvallisCAP.org  7     Corvallis  Climate  Action  Policy   Cities  for  Climate  Protection  Campaign  (CCP).  Initiated  in  1993  by  the  United  Nations   Environment  Program  and  the  International  Council  for  Local  Environmental  Initiatives  (ICLEI),  the   Campaign  was  the  first  international  initiative  that  aimed  to  facilitate  emissions  reduction  of  local   governments  through  a  five  milestone  process  of  measurement,  commitment,  planning,   implementing  and  monitoring.  The  City  of  Corvallis  passed  its  resolution  joining  the  CCP  in  April   2000.  As  of  2009,  the  CCP  Campaign  had  grown  to  more  than  1000  local  governments  worldwide.   U.S.  Mayors  Climate  Protection  Agreement.  Established  by  Seattle  Mayor  Greg  Nickels  in  2005,   the  Agreement  challenges  participating  cities  to  meet  or  beat  the  Kyoto  Protocol  targets  and  to  urge   the  state  and  federal  government  and  U.S.  Congress  to  enact  policies  and  programs  to  reduce   greenhouse  gas  emissions.  Corvallis  Mayor  Helen  Berg  signed  the  Agreement  in  2005,  and  Mayor   Charles  Tomlinson  reaffirmed  the  City’s  participation  2007.  As  of  October  2009,  1,000  mayors   representing  more  than  86  million  residents  had  signed  the  agreement.   City  of  Corvallis  Greenhouse  Gas  Inventory  for  Municipal  Government  Operations.  12  In  2008,   the  City  contracted  with  Merit  System  Services  for  an  inventory  of  emissions  from  government   operations.  In  early  2010,  City  staff  completed  the  final  report  for  presentation  to  the  City  Council   and  assumed  responsibility  for  future  inventories.  The  City  planned  to  update  the  inventory  every   two  years,  but  thus  far  no  updates  have  been  completed.   Community  Energy  Strategy:  A  2020  Framework.  In  2009,  the  City  Council  created  the  Energy   Strategy  Ad  Hoc  Committee  (ESAHC),  which  completed  the  Community  Energy  Strategy  “in  a  context   of  increasing  urgency  and  a  strong  sense  that  we  need  to  begin  acting  now  to  increase  our  energy   security  and  reduce  our  contribution  to  global  climate  change.”13  The  10-­‐year  plan  focuses  on   energy  conservation  and  efficiency,  renewable  and/or  low  carbon  energy  sources,  and  local  clean-­‐ energy  business.  The  ESAHC  also  compiled  existing  energy  and  sustainability  policies  and   conducted  a  gap  assessment  of  current  policies  and  where  the  City  could  be  in  terms  of  achieving   community  energy  goals.  In  January  2010,  the  City  Council  approved  the  Strategy  and  adopted  the   compilation  of  existing  policies  as  a  reference  guide  to  the  Corvallis  City  Council  Policy  Manual.   Corvallis  Community  Greenhouse  Gas  Emissions  Inventory  Report.  14  In  2014,  with  support  from   a  grant  provided  by  the  Environmental  Protection  Agency’s  Climate  Showcase  Communities   Program,  City  staff  and  community  partners  completed  an  inventory  of  the  community’s   greenhouse  gas  (GHG)  emissions.  The  inventory  accounts  for  emissions  related  to  buildings,  energy   use,  and  transportation,  and  attempts  to  measure  the  energy  and  associated  emissions  used  to   make,  transport,  store,  distribute  and  dispose  of  the  consumer  goods  and  services  we  use.                                                                                                                             12  Greenhouse  Gas  Inventory  for  Municipal  Government  Operations,  City  of  Corvallis,  October  2010   http://archive.corvallisoregon.gov/0/doc/285255/Electronic.aspx.     13  “Draft  Energy  Strategy,”  Memorandum  from  Energy  Strategy  Ad  Hoc  Committee  to  Mayor  and  City  Council,   17  December  2009:  http://archive.corvallisoregon.gov/0/doc/260963/Electronic.aspx.     14  City  of  Corvallis  2012  Community  Greenhouse  Gas  Inventory  Report,  City  of  Corvallis,  May  2010:   http://archive.corvallisoregon.gov/0/doc/420074/Electronic.aspx.     Corvallis  Climate  Action  Plan  –  www.CorvallisCAP.org  8     Corvallis  Climate  Action  Plan  –  www.CorvallisCAP.org  9     The  Corvallis  Climate  Action  Plan   Plan  Development   In  early  2013,  when  the  Corvallis  City  Council  solicited  input  from  the  community  on  goals  for  its   two-­‐year  term,  the  Corvallis  Sustainability  Coalition  Steering  Committee  submitted  the  following:   Adopt  a  City  Council  goal  to  assess  the  status  of  the  City’s  greenhouse  gas  reduction  efforts,  set   significant  greenhouse  gas  reduction  goals,  and  identify  action  items  that  will  help  move  the   City  toward  those  goals.   The  Council  did  not  adopt  a  climate  action  goal,  but  the  Coalition  Steering  Committee  decided  to   proceed  with  work  on  a  climate  action  plan  via  a  task  force  because  it  did  not  want  to  wait  another   two  years  to  see  progress.  Meanwhile,  other  efforts  to  address  climate  change  were  emerging  or   coalescing  in  Corvallis,  such  as  the  founding  of  350Corvalls  and  a  chapter  of  the  Citizens  Climate   Lobby,  and  initiatives  by  the  Sierra  Club,  the  League  of  Women  Voters,  and  the  environmental  and   stewardship  committees  of  a  number  of  faith  groups.     Representatives  of  these  groups  came  together  in  May  2013  to  form  the  Corvallis  Climate  Action   Plan  Task  Force.    In  June  2014,  when  City  staff  presented  the  results  of  the  community  greenhouse   gas  inventory  to  the  City  Council,  the  Task  Force  requested  that  the  City  follow  up  on  the  inventory   with  the  next  steps  in  ICLEI’s  five-­‐milestone  process,  namely  by  adopting  an  emissions  reduction   target  and  developing  a  local  climate  action  plan.  The  Council  referred  the  request  to  the  Urban   Services  Committee,  and  the  Task  Force  worked  with  the  Committee  over  the  summer  to  develop  a   Scope  of  Work  for  proceeding  with  a  community-­‐led  process  of  developing  a  climate  action  plan.   Task  Force  Members     Membership  in  the  Climate  Action  Plan  Task  Force  has  changed  since  the  initial  meetings,  and  the   current  Task  Force  is  grateful  and  indebted  to  all  who  have  participated  (see  Acknowledgements)   for  their  expertise  and  input  on  planning  processes,  topic  areas,  development  of  the  plan  and  the   plan  document,  public  outreach,  and  general  support.  The  current  Task  Force  members  who   researched  and  drafted  sections  of  this  plan  are:   Team  Member  Partner  Agency/Group   Julie  Arrington  Marys  Peak  Group—Sierra  Club   Zachariah  Baker  Member  at  Large   Dan  Blaustein-­‐Rejto  Member  at  Large   Glencora  Borradaile  Member  at  Large   Claudia  Keith  League  of  Women  Voters   Linda  Lovett  Corvallis  Sustainability  Coalition   Annette  Mills  League  of  Women  Voters   Kris  Paul  350  Corvallis   Marge  Stevens  First  United  Methodist  Church  Natural  Step  Ministry       Corvallis  Climate  Action  Plan  –  www.CorvallisCAP.org  10   Drafting  Process   Research.  The  process  of  drafting  the  CAP  began  with  research  into  other  municipal  and  state   climate  and  energy  action  plans  so  that  we  might  build  on  the  best  practices  and  research  of  other   successful  efforts.  The  Task  Force  also  researched  existing  local  policies  and  plans  in  order  to  build   on  and  incorporate  previous  efforts,  such  as  the  City’s  greenhouse  gas  inventories,  and  align  with   existing  efforts,  such  as  Benton  County’s  Climate  Change  Adaptation  Plan.     The  lead  author  on  each  topic  area  compiled  information  from  some  key  sources:   • Community  Sustainability  Action  Plan.  This  long-­‐range,  visionary  document  was   developed  in  2008  by  the  Corvallis  Sustainability  Coalition  to  meet  the  Corvallis  City   Council’s  goal  “to  develop  a  community-­‐wide  sustainability  initiative.”  The  plan  was  the   result  of  a  landmark  community  process  that  revolved  around  three  town  hall  meetings  and   involved  hundreds  of  Corvallis  residents  and  thousands  of  volunteer  hours.  The  2008   Action  Plan  was  revised  in  2012-­‐13  and  again  received  public  review  and  feedback  through   a  series  of  “Community  Conversations.”  The  revised  document,  titled  Community   Sustainability:  A  Framework  for  Action,  was  published  in  2013.   • Climate  action  plans  from  other  cities.  Of  the  many  municipal  climate  action  plans  that   Task  Force  members  reviewed,  those  from  the  cities  of  Portland  and  Eugene  were   particularly  useful.  For  example,  the  objectives  and  actions  in  the  topic  areas  of  this  plan   draw  upon  the  strategy  lists  that  Eugene  compiled  using  information  from  regional  experts   and  municipal-­‐  and  state-­‐level  climate  and  energy  plans  from  across  the  nation.  Corvallis   Task  Force  members  saved  a  great  deal  of  time  by  not  having  to  duplicate  this  effort.   • Oregon  Global  Warming  Commission  “Roadmap  to  2020.”  This  document  offers   recommendations  for  how  Oregon  can  meet  its  2020  greenhouse  gas  reduction  goal  (10%   below  1990  levels),  get  a  head  start  toward  its  2050  goal  (at  least  75%  below  1990  levels),   and  build  a  prosperous,  clean-­‐energy-­‐based  21st  century  state  economy.  Six  technical   subcommittees  drawn  from  business,  academia,  non-­‐governmental  organizations,  local   government  and  state  agency  staff  did  the  initial  work  of  describing  scenarios,  sifting   through  possible  recommendations  and  evaluating  them.  In  October  2010,  the  Commission   unanimously  adopted  the  Interim  “Roadmap  to  2020”  Report.   Review.  The  lead  authors  of  the  topic  areas  in  this  plan  invited  community  members  with  broad   knowledge  of  the  topic  and  the  ability  to  bring  a  variety  of  perspectives  to  review  their  sections.   The  topic  specialists  reviewed  proposed  actions  in  greater  detail,  provided  input  on  priorities,   clarified  ideas,  identified  opportunities  and  challenges,  and  helped  to  ground  the  process  in   Corvallis’s  unique  economic,  social,  and  environmental  conditions.  A  complete  list  of  Topic   Specialists  can  be  found  in  Appendix  F.   The  Task  Force  also  developed  an  Advisory  Panel  composed  of  people  with  expertise  in  the  process   of  developing  a  climate  action  plan  and/or  climate  change  mitigation  and  adaptation.  As  the   Advisory  Panel  reviews  the  draft  of  the  plan,  it  is  providing  technical  information,  helping  to   prioritize  strategies  and  actions,  and  advising  on  implementation.  A  list  of  Advisory  Panel  members   is  in  Appendix  G.     Corvallis  Climate  Action  Plan  –  www.CorvallisCAP.org  11   Outreach.  The  Task  Force  held  two  public  forums— October  29  and  November  12,  2014—to  engage   community  members  interested  in  climate  and  energy   challenges  as  they  relate  to  each  of  the  six  topic  areas.   About  60  community  members,  including  Task  Force   members,  topic  specialists,  and  City  Councilors  attended   each  forum.  Participants  reviewed  the  strategy  list  for   each  topic  area,  provided  perspectives  on  which  actions   should  be  given  the  highest  priority,  identified  missing   actions  or  strategies,  and  offered  suggestions  on  how  to   implement  individual  actions.     Equity  Principles   The  Task  Force  has  attempted  to  draft  this  climate  action  plan  such  that  it  expresses  the  urgency  for   integrated  action  at  the  local  level,  led  by  local  government  in  partnership  with  business  and  civil   society.  While  the  plan  is  directed  primarily  toward  the  Corvallis  City  Council  and  staff,  climate   action  is  an  effort  the  entire  community  needs  to  support  and  act  on,  not  something  that  only  the   local  government  adopts  and  implements.     Therefore,  the  Task  Force  attempted  to  view  strategies  and  actions  to  address  climate  change   through  the  lens  of  social  equity.  As  noted  in  the  Introduction  and  in  the  City  Council’s  Community   Sustainability  Policy,  sustainable  communities  are  ones  that  “encourage and develop connections between environmental quality, economic vitality, and social equity” and that “equitably distribute the costs of improving sustainability.”15 Therefore,  when  considering  action  on  climate   change,  it  is  important  to  consider  the  following  equity  principles:  16 • Healthy:  Mitigate  environmental  factors  leading  to  health  disparities,  such  as  barriers  to   active  lifestyles  and  transportation,  pollution  exposure,  disparate  access  to  green  space  and   other  natural  resources.   • Safe  and  Livable:  Promote  investments  in  housing  energy  efficiency  that  will  make  them   safer,  more  comfortable  and  affordable,  and  in  community  infrastructure  that  enhances   pedestrian  and  bike  safety,  and  other  elements  of  livability.   • Accessible:  Promote  investments  that  improve  neighborhood  accessibility,  by  bringing   services  to  underserved  neighborhoods  and  supporting  equitable  expansions  of  public   transit  and  active  transportation  infrastructure.   • Prosperous:  Promote  the  creation  of  employment  and  small  business  opportunities  with   potential  to  lift  up  and  empower  households  and  communities,  and  maximize  that  potential                                                                                                                             15  CP  2010-­1.12 Community  Sustainability  Policy,  City  of  Corvallis,  rev  April  14,  2014.   16  Memo  Re:  Equity  Scan  for  the  2013  Portland/Multnomah  County  Climate  Action  Plan,  August  8,  3013:   http://www.portlandoregon.gov/bps/article/463573       Corvallis  Climate  Action  Plan  –  www.CorvallisCAP.org  12   through  equitable  hiring  and  contracting  policies  that  target  those  opportunities  toward   historically  underrepresented  populations.   • Inclusive:  Include  communities  of  color  and  other  historically  underrepresented   populations  in  every  step  of  the  climate  action  planning  process,  from  the  definition  of  goals   to  implementation.  Undertake  proactive,  culturally  appropriate  strategies  to  reach  out  to   these  populations  and  involve  and  empower  them  through  the  CAP’s  actions  and  programs.   Plan  Scope  and  Organization   Sources  of  Emissions   In  Corvallis,  most  greenhouse  gas  emissions  result  from  energy  consumed  in  buildings  and  vehicles   and  from  energy  associated  with  making,  transporting,  storing,  distributing  and  disposing  of  the   goods  and  services  we  consume.  The  community  emissions  cited  in  this  plan  are  from  the  City  of   Corvallis  2012  Community  Greenhouse  Gas  Inventory  Report,  which  was  completed  under  the  U.S.   Community  Protocol  for  Accounting  and  Reporting  of  Greenhouse  Gas  Emissions,  a  methodology   developed  by  ICLEI–Local  Governments  for  Sustainability  and  released  in  October,  2012.     Total  emissions  for  the  community  in  2012  are  estimated  at  1,257,115  Metric  Tons  Carbon  Dioxide   Equivalent  (MT  CO2e).  Emissions  sources  included  in  the  inventory  cover  the  broad  categories  of   stationary  emissions,  electricity,  transportation,  solid  waste,  and  the  emissions  associated  with   household  and  government  consumption  of  food,  goods  and  services.  The  chart  below  summarizes   the  findings  based  on  the  five  Basic  Emissions  Generating  Activities  plus  Household  and   Government  Consumption.           Corvallis  Climate  Action  Plan  –  www.CorvallisCAP.org  13   Geographic  Scope   The  boundary  for  which  emissions  were  calculated  in  the  community  greenhouse  gas  inventory   was  Corvallis  city  limits.  Therefore,  this  climate  action  plan  also  uses  city  limits  as  the  boundary  for   most  of  the  recommended  objectives  and  actions.     However,  the  plan  is  intended  to  reach  well  beyond  city  limits;  citizens,  topic  experts  and  partners   from  Corvallis,  the  surrounding  community,  and  even  beyond  came  together  to  develop  this  plan   because  climate  change  poses  challenges  and  opportunities  that  will  require  partnerships  and  joint   efforts  far  beyond  the  Corvallis  city  limits.                     Reduction  Goals   With  completion  of  the  community  greenhouse  gas  inventory,  Corvallis  achieved  Milestone  1  in  the   widely endorsed climate  action  planning  process  outlined  by  ICLEI—Local  Governments  for   Sustainability.  The  City  can  now  use  the  inventory  for  what  it  is  intended—establishing  a  reduction   target  (Milestone  2)  that  reflects  the  baseline  year  (2012).  Because  the  CAP  Task  Force  worked   concurrently  on  researching  a  reduction  target  and  developing  this  climate  action  plan  (Milestone   3),  members  used  as  working  assumptions  two  goals  from  the  City  of  Eugene’s  Climate  and  Energy   Action  Plan  2013  Progress  Report:   1. Reduce  community-­‐wide  greenhouse  gas  emissions  by  10  percent  below  1990  levels  by   2020  and  at  least  75 percent below 1990 levels by 2050.   2. Identify  strategies  that  will  help  the  community  adapt  to  a  changing  climate.   ICLEI’s  Five-­Milestone  Process   ICLEI—Local  Governments  for  Sustainability’s  five-­step   methodology  provides  a  simple,  effective,  standardized   means  for  communities  to  reduce  emissions  from  both   government  operations  and  the  community  as  a  whole.   The  steps  can  be  worked  on  concurrently,  but  each   should  be  considered  separately  when  developing  a   local  action  plan.     • Milestone  One:  Conduct  a  baseline  emissions   inventory  and  forecast.   • Milestone Two: Establish  an emissions reduction target for the forecast year. • Milestone Three: Develop a local climate action plan  to  implement  actions  that  reduce  GHG   emissions. • Milestone Four: Implement the climate action plan. • Milestone Five: Measure,  verify  and  report   performance.   Corvallis  Climate  Action  Plan  –  www.CorvallisCAP.org  14   Eugene’s  2013  GHG    emissions  reduction  goal  matches  Oregon’s  stated  GHG  reduction  targets  from   House  Bill  3543,  which  reflected  scientific  research  available  in  2007.  However,  the  scientific   community  now  recommends  that  industrialized  countries  reduce  their  absolute  GHG  emissions  85   percent  by  2050  relative  to  a  2010  baseline.   Since  the  base  year  for  the  Corvallis  community  inventory  is  2012,  the  target  year  for  Corvallis  is   2053  for  an  85  percent  reduction  compared  to  a  base  year.  With  community  GHG  emissions  of   1,257,115  MT  CO2e  in  2012,  Corvallis  needs  a  year-­‐over-­‐year  average  reduction  of  4.52  percent  to   meet  the  2053  target.  Assuming  the  interim  goals  of  2020,  2030,  and  2050,  Corvallis  might  set  the   following  targets:17   • 2020:  MT  CO2e  ~  868,185,  cumulative  reduction  of  ~31%  of  base   • 2030:  MT  CO2e  ~  546,587,  cumulative  reduction  of  ~56.5%  of  base   • 2050:  MT  CO2e  ~  216,647,  cumulative  reduction  of  ~82.8%  of  base   • 2053:  MT  CO2e  ~  188,567,  cumulative  reduction  of  ~85%  of  base   The  CAP  Task  Force  is  continuing  to  test  reduction  target  models  and  underlying  assumptions,  but   the  above  targets  show  the  magnitude  of  the  reductions  required.  Once  targets  are  established,  the   actions  outlined  in  this  plan  can  be  assessed  for  the  impact  they  may  have  in  helping  to  meet  the   targets.  This  will  put  Corvallis  on  the  road  to  implementing  carbon  emissions  reduction  activities   (Milestone  4)  and  determining  how  to  evaluate  our  progress  (Milestone  5).       Objectives  and  Actions   The  strategies  are  divided  into  six  topic  areas.  The  first  four  are  the  primary  targets  for  greenhouse   gas  emissions  and  fossil  fuel  reductions,  and  the  last  two  focus  on  actions  necessary  to  adapt  to   climate  change.  Please  note  that  the  actions  in  each  area  are  not  organized  by  priority.  The  first   action  in  each  section  is  not  necessarily  the  most  important,  nor  is  the  last  the  least  important.   Terms  in  italics  are  defined  in  the  glossary  located  in  Appendix  H.   • Buildings  and  Energy  looks  at  energy  used  in  residential,  commercial,  and  industrial   buildings  in  Corvallis.  This  section  includes  recommendations  to  reduce  energy  use  in   existing  buildings  and  new  construction,  expand  use  of  renewable  energy,  and  prepare   buildings  for  climate  change.   • Food  and  Agriculture  includes  everything  related  to  our  food  production,  delivery,   distribution,  and  waste  disposal.  This  section  includes  recommendations  to  reduce   consumption  of  meat  and  dairy  foods,  reduce  greenhouse  gas  emissions  associated  with   agriculture  and  food  waste,  protect  regional  farmland,  increase  home-­‐  and  locally-­‐grown   foods,  and  prepare  our  food  systems  for  an  uncertain  future.                                                                                                                             17  These  targets  were  derived  using  the  Autodesk  City  Finance  Approach  to  Climate-­‐stabilizing  Targets     (“C-­‐FACT”)  methodology.  Autodesk's  open-­‐source  methodology  is  science-­‐driven,  considers  economic  factors,   and  compatible  with  standard  protocols  for  carbon  accounting.  For  more  information,  see:  http://static-­‐ dc.autodesk.net/content/dam/autodesk/www/sustainability/docs/pdf/An_Openly_Available_Method_for_Se tting_Science_Based_GHG_Targets_for_Cities-­‐ADSK_White_Paper-­‐approved_with_links.pdf     Corvallis  Climate  Action  Plan  –  www.CorvallisCAP.org  15   • Land  Use  and  Transportation  considers  the  use  of  land  and  the  transportation  of  people   and  goods.  This  section  includes  recommendations  to  increase  urban  density  and  mixes  of   land  use  and  a  focus  on  improving  systems  for  bike,  pedestrian,  and  transit.   • Consumption  and  Solid  Waste  looks  at  the  lifecycle  of  consumer  goods  from  extraction  of   raw  materials  to  manufacturing,  packaging,  distribution,  product  use  and  finally,  disposal.   This  section  includes  recommendations  to  reduce  greenhouse  gas  emissions  associated   with  consumption  of  goods,  improve  recycling  and  composting,  improve  municipal   purchasing  practices,  and  adapt  consumption  strategies  based  on  new  findings.   • Health  and  Social  Services  addresses  mental  and  physical  health  care  and  assistance   programs  for  disadvantaged  populations.  This  section  contains  recommendations  to   prepare  health  and  social  systems  for  a  different  future  and  reduce  the  impacts  of  climate-­‐ related  disasters.   • Urban  Natural  Resources  considers  the  soil,  air,  water,  plants,  and  animals  of  our  city.  This   section  contains  recommendations  to  manage  land,  trees,  and  water  for  multiple  benefits,   update  resource  management  plans,  improve  access  to  natural  resource  data,  and  expand   drinking  water  and  stormwater  management  programs.   What  Happens  Next?   This  climate  action  plan  is  a  dynamic,  living  document.  The  Climate  Action  Plan  Task  Force   understands—and  desires—that  it  be  scrutinized  and  revised  because  developing  a  first  climate   action  plan  is  just  a  step  in  what  will  be  a  decades-­‐long  series  of  climate  action  planning  exercises.   As  spelled  out  in  the  CAP  Scope  of  Work  for  the  Urban  Services  Committee,  “The  endgame  is  not  the   plan—it’s  the  implementation  of  the  plan.”   The  Corvallis  CAP  establishes  general  directions  and  offers  specific  actions  over  the  next  three  to   five  years,  but  the  scientific  and  general  community’s  understanding  of  climate  and  energy   challenges  are  evolving  rapidly.  Changes  in  community  priorities,  energy-­‐saving  technologies  and   opportunities,  and  state  or  federal  rules  for  emissions  will  require  the  goals  and  objectives  of  this   plan  to  be  reviewed  and  updated  on  a  regular  basis.     However,  this  raises  some  very  important  questions,  namely:  Who  or  what  organization  is  going  to   be  the  steward  of  the  plan?  Stewardship  would  include,  but  is  not  limited  to:   • Conducting  future  GHG  inventories—municipal  and  community—on  a  regular  basis.   • Overseeing  implementation  of  action  items  in  the  CAP.   • Monitoring  and  measuring  progress.   • Keeping  records  on  the  metrics  of  the  unfolding  plan  to  track  projects.   • Reporting  on  how  well  actions  are  meeting  their  intended  emissions  reduction  goals.   • Identifying  and  seeking  funding  for  actions,  where  necessary.   The  CAP  Task  Force  has  undertaken  this  effort  to  develop  a  community  climate  action  plan  because   it  understands  that  City  staff  resources  are  limited.  That  said,  local  governments  necessarily  have   the  leading  role  in  many  areas,  such  as  guiding  local  land  use  policies;  shaping  new  development;   strengthening  building  codes;  investing  in  transportation  systems  and  infrastructure;  working  with     Corvallis  Climate  Action  Plan  –  www.CorvallisCAP.org  16   utilities;  and  managing  parks,  urban  forests,  natural  areas,  and  watersheds.  In  addition  to  eventual   adoption  of  a  CAP,  we  would  expect  the  City  of  Corvallis  to  commit  to:   • Integrating  CAP  strategies  and  actions  into  City  operations  and  existing  plans  (e.g.,   Transportation  Master  Plan,  Comprehensive  Plan,  Economic  Development  Plan)  and  the   update  of  the  2020  Vision  Statement.   • Evaluating  and  reporting  on  community  carbon  emissions,  re-­‐examining  goals,  and   identifying  new  actions  on  a  regular  basis.   • Devoting  staff  resources  as  required  to  accomplish  the  above  tasks.  The  costs  need  to  be   built  into  the  budget,  and  the  responsibility  needs  to  be  in  employee  job  descriptions.     Funding   Many  of  the  action  items  recommended  in  this  plan  align  with  work  already  underway  across  the   City  organization  in  solid  waste  management,  stormwater  management,  urban  forestry,  and  other   existing  City  programs.  Moreover,  many  are  intended  to  be  part  of  the  work  that  the  City  will  be   doing  when  it  updates  the  Comprehensive  Plan  and  Transportation  Master  Plan  and  therefore  are   likely  to  require  a  redirection  of  City  staff  rather  than  additional  budget.     The  CAP  Task  Force  plans  to  conduct  further  research  to  clarify  some  of  the  relative  costs  and   benefits  of  actions  in  this  plan.  It  will  compile  a  table  of  the  actions  and  associated  targets  that   includes  estimated  financial  impacts  and  estimated  greenhouse  gas  reductions  and  include  it  in  the   final  draft  of  the  CAP  that  it  presents  to  the  City  Council  in  January.   The  CAP  Task  Force  also  is  willing  to  research  funding  opportunities  and  has  already  identified   some  in  the  course  of  its  work.  Understanding  that  seeking  and  applying  for  grants  can  be  very   time-­‐consuming,  Task  Force  members  are  willing  to  work  with  City  staff  to  take  advantage  of  these   opportunities.  Some  possibilities  include:   • STAR  Communities.  Sustainability  Tools  for  Assessing  and  Rating  Communities  is  a   Washington,  DC-­‐based  501(c)(3)  nonprofit  organization  that  works  to  evaluate,  improve   and  certify  sustainable  communities.  The  STAR  Communities  Leadership  Program  provides   extensive  staff  support  and  services  to  a  cohort  of  communities  as  they  work  through  the   STAR  Community  Rating  System  measuring  local  sustainability.  In  the  past  two  years,  58   cities  and  counties  have  participated  in  the  Leadership  Program.  To  date,  20  have  achieved   STAR  certification  and  15-­‐18  more  are  expected  to  certify  this  winter.  Applications  for  the   Spring  2015  cohort  are  open  now  and  are  due  January  16,  2015.  The  one-­‐year  program   costs  $7,500  and  begins  March  1,  2015.  STAR  Communities  will  make  available  a  limited   number  of  need-­‐based  program  fee  scholarships.   • Climate  Action  Champions.  In  October,  the  Obama  Administration  announced  this   competition  to  identify,  showcase,  and  invest  in  up  to  15  local  and  tribal  governments   across  the  country  that  demonstrate  an  ongoing  commitment  to  cutting  carbon  pollution   and  preparing  for  the  impacts  of  a  changing  climate.  The  competition  is  administered  by  the   U.S.  Department  of  Energy  (DOE)  and  implemented  in  collaboration  with  a  broad  range  of   Federal  agencies.  “Champions”  are  eligible  for  technical  assistance,  mentorship,  peer-­‐to-­‐ peer  learning,  and  climate  tools  and  will  be  promoted  as  best  practices  to  other     Corvallis  Climate  Action  Plan  –  www.CorvallisCAP.org  17   communities  seeking  to  do  similar  work.  18  The  competition  has  closed  for  this  year,  but  it  is   likely  to  be  renewed  in  2015.   • Partnership  for  Sustainable  Communities.  Since  2009,  this  joint  program  of  the  U.S.   Department  of  Housing  and  Urban  Development,  U.S.  Department  of  Transportation,  and   the  U.S.  Environmental  Protection  Agency  has  been  helping  communities  strengthen   environmental  protection,  economic  competitiveness,  and  climate  resilience.  By  bringing   together  communities  that  have  experience  with  long-­‐range  planning  and  providing  grants   and  other  assistance,  the  Partnership  works  to  coordinate  federal  housing,  transportation,   water,  and  other  infrastructure  investments  to  make  neighborhoods  more  prosperous,   allow  people  to  live  closer  to  jobs,  save  households  time  and  money,  and  reduce  pollution.     • 100  Resilient  Cities.  Pioneered  by  the  Rockefeller  Foundation,  100RC  is  dedicated  to   helping  cities  around  the  world  become  more  resilient  to  physical,  social  and  economic   challenges.  100RC  supports  the  adoption  and  incorporation  of  a  view  of  resilience  that   includes  not  just  shocks  –  earthquakes,  fires,  floods,  etc.  –  but  also  stresses,  such  as  high   unemployment;  an  overtaxed  or  inefficient  public  transportation  system;  endemic  violence;   or  chronic  food  and  water  shortages.  Cities  in  the  100RC  network  are  provided  with  the   resources  necessary  to  develop  a  roadmap  to  resilience  along  four  main  pathways:  1)   financial  and  logistical  guidance  for  establishing  a  Chief  Resilience  Officer  in  city   government;  2)  expert  support  for  development  of  a  resilience  strategy;  3)  access  to   solutions,  service  providers,  and  partners  from  the  private,  public  and  NGO  sectors  who  can   help  develop  and  implement  the  resilience  strategy;  and  4)  membership  in  a  global  network   of  member  cities  who  can  learn  from  and  help  each  other.                                                                                                                               18  “Obama  Administration  Announces  Climate  Action  Champions  Competition  to  Recognize  Climate  Leaders   Across  the  United  States,”  White  House  Office  of  the  Press  Secretary,  October  01,  2014:   http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-­‐press-­‐office/2014/10/01/obama-­‐administration-­‐announces-­‐climate-­‐ action-­‐champions-­‐competition-­‐reco       Corvallis  Climate  Action  Plan  –  www.CorvallisCAP.org  18   Buildings  and  Energy   “At  about  44  percent,  emissions  associated  with  building  energy  account  for  the   largest  part  of  the  Corvallis  community’s  carbon  footprint.”   What  is  the  Buildings  and  Energy  Action  Area?   This  section  focuses  on  all  the  energy  used  to   provide  heating,  cooling,  light,  and  power  in   residential,  commercial  and  industrial   buildings  in  Corvallis  and  on  the  resulting   greenhouse  gas  (GHG)  emissions.  The   emissions  from  this  sector  come  from  a  wide   variety  of  uses,  such  as  operating  commercial   businesses  (e.g.,  supermarkets),  producing   industrial  products  (e.g.,  operating   equipment),  to  powering  events  (e.g.,  lighting   at  Reser  Stadium),  as  well  as  the  traditional   heating/cooling/power  needs  of  homes,   apartments,  office  buildings,  etc.   How  Do  Buildings  and  Energy  Contribute  to  GHG  Emissions?   Corvallis  purchases  electricity  from  Pacific  Power,  an  investor-­‐owned  utility,  and  Consumers   Power,  Inc.  a  privately  owned  cooperative  operated  on  a  non-­‐profit  basis.  Pacific  Power,  which   provided  over  91%  of  the  electricity  used  in  the  community  in  2012,  generates  67%  of  its  electricity   from  coal  and  13%  from  natural  gas.19.  This  heavy  reliance  on  fossil  fuels  contributes  to  a  higher   percentage  of  emissions.  Consumers  Power   purchases  electricity  from  the  Bonneville   Power  Administration,  which  markets   electrical  power  generated  from   hydroelectric,  nuclear,  and  renewable   resources.  The  chart  at  right  compares   emissions  from  electricity  by  source.  Both   utilities  provided  usage  data  for  the   inventory  year  for  the  community,  but  did   not  break  it  down  by  residential,   commercial,  and  industrial  users.                                                                                                                             19  Oregon  Department  of  Energy’s  “Where  does  Oregon’s  Electricity  come  from?”  website   http://www.oregon.gov/energy/pages/oregons_electric_power_mix.aspx     Corvallis  Climate  Action  Plan  –  www.CorvallisCAP.org  19   Multiple  types  of  fuels  combust  to  produce  heat  for  space   heating,  process  heating,  and  cooking,  but  natural  gas  is  by  far   the  most  widely  used  in  Corvallis.  Natural  gas  is  cleaner  than   coal  or  oil  combustion,  but  it  still  produces  significant   greenhouse  gas  emissions.  Northwest  Natural  Gas,  an  investor-­‐ owned  utility,  is  the  sole  supplier  to  the  Corvallis  community   and  provided  usage  data  for  the  greenhouse  gas  inventory.   Usage  data  for  other  fuel  types,  from  biomass  fuels  such  as   wood  to  petroleum  products  such  as  distillate  fuel  oils,  are   difficult  to  determine  and  were  not  included  in  the  inventory.   What  Part  of  Corvallis’s  GHG  Footprint  Comes  from  Buildings  and  Energy?   At  about  44  percent,  emissions  associated   with  building  energy  account  for  the  largest   part  of  the  Corvallis  community’s  carbon   footprint,  according  to  the  greenhouse  gas   inventory.  Emissions  from  electricity  use   and  electric  power  transmission  and   distribution  losses  account  for  27.2  percent.   Emissions  from  the  community’s  use  of   natural  gas  and  the  energy  used  to  extract,   process  and  deliver  natural  gas  account  for   17  percent.20   How  Will  Climate  Change  Affect  Buildings  and  Energy?   More  intense  storms,  reduced  snowpack,  lower  summertime  stream  flow,  and  more  extreme   summertime  heat  events  will  have  tangible  impacts  on  buildings  and  energy  resources.  The   community  should  prepare  for  unexpected  emergencies  that  include  interruptions  in  utilities,   supplies,  and  food.  A  checklist  for  this  topic  would  include:   • Ensuring  that  building  codes  allow  and  encourage  practices  such  as:  rainwater  collection   and  storage,  safe  greywater  reuse,  composting  toilets,  and  solar  access  for  photovoltaics.   • Working  with  utility  companies  to  develop  local  grid  and  storage  capacity  for  electricity   (especially  that  which  is  locally  generated  renewably  produced)  and  natural  gas.                                                                                                                             20  The  use  of  energy  associated  with  the  operation  of  the  City’s  water  delivery  facilities,  the  use  of  potable   water,  and  the  generation  of  wastewater  by  the  community  are  all  included  in  the  community  greenhouse  gas   inventory  under  electricity  use.  Process  emissions  associated  with  generation  of  wastewater  by  the   community  and  from  operation  of  wastewater  treatment  facilities  are  considered  separately.  Wastewater   treatment  processes  create  emissions  when  microorganisms  degrade  the  soluble  organic  material  in   wastewater  under  anaerobic  conditions,  creating  methane,  nitrous  oxide,  and  carbon  dioxide.     Corvallis  Climate  Action  Plan  –  www.CorvallisCAP.org  20   • Promoting  structural  safety  codes  for  wildland  fires.   • Developing  and  publicizing  emergency  shelter  centers.   Objectives  and  Actions  for  Buildings  and  Energy   OBJECTIVE  1:  Reduce  energy  consumption  by  50%  by  2030  through  conservation  and   efficiency.   Actions  to  be  completed  by  the  end  of  2016   • 1.1.  Support  the  Corvallis  Environmental  Center  and  Georgetown  University  Energy  Prize   group  and  others  in  their  continuing  work  to  change  behaviors  in  residents  to  minimize   carbon  footprints.   Actions  to  be  completed  by  the  end  of  2020   • 1.2.  Require  all  buildings  to  maximize  conservation  and  efficiency  of  energy.   o 1.2a)  Rewrite  building  codes  for  new  construction  to  require  lowest  carbon   footprint  construction  and  operation,  for  example  using  guidelines  and  standards   from  Architecture  2030,  the  Energy  Trust  of  Oregon,  or  LEED.   o 1.2b)  Require  all  existing  buildings,  especially  rental  properties,  be  retrofitted  to   meet  stringent  energy  conservation  standards  such  as  those  mentioned  in  the   Oregon  Global  Warming  Commission’s  Roadmap  to  2020.   o 1.2c)  Direct  the  building  of  smaller  homes  that  use  less  energy  to  operate  and  fewer   building  materials  to  construct,  both  for  new  construction  as  well  as  density  and   infill  of  existing  buildings.   • 1.3.  Require  energy  performance  ratings  for  all  homes  so  that  owners,  tenants  and   prospective  buyers  are  informed  before  making  purchasing  or  rental  decisions.   • 1.4  Require  energy  performance  benchmarking  and  promote  improved  operation  and   maintenance  practices  for  all  commercial  buildings  and  also  (separately)  for  multi-­‐family   buildings.   • 1.5.  Establish  practices  that  reduce  the  use  of  potable  water  for  non-­‐potable  purposes,  such   as  landscaping,  washing,  and  toilets;  reduce  volumes  of  wastewater  and  stormwater   entering  the  treatment  center;  recharge  ground  water  through  rainwater  collection,  rain   gardens,  permeable  pavers,  etc.     • 1.6.  Work  with  utility  companies  via  franchise  agreements  to  structure  rates  to  incentivize   reduced  use,  require  equipment  with  maximize  efficiency,  and  require  conservation  voltage   reduction  from  Pacific  Power.   OBJECTIVE  2:  Transition  to  100%  renewably  produced  energy  by  2030.   Actions  to  be  completed  by  the  end  of  2016   • 2.1.  Monitor  and  track  the  growth  of  alternative  renewable  energy  in  Corvallis  –  make  it  a   community  project  with  regular  updates  on  progress.   • 2.2.  Make  the  pursuit  of  renewable  energy  installations  by  residents,  businesses,  and   municipal  buildings  a  primary  focus  of  the  Economic  Development  office  under  the     Corvallis  Climate  Action  Plan  –  www.CorvallisCAP.org  21   principal  of  import  substitution.  Develop  business  linkages  so  that  all  imported  energy  can   be  renewably  sourced.  Begin  immediately.   • 2.3.  Assist  and  promote  the  development   and  installation  of  community  scale   renewable  energy  projects  such  as  solar  co-­‐ ops  and  community  investment  solar   projects  such  as  Seeds  for  the  Sol.   • 2.4.  Support  efforts  of  regional,  statewide   and  national  groups  like  350.org  and   Citizen’s  Climate  Lobby  to  pass  legislation  in   support  of  reduced  greenhouse  gas   emissions.   OBJECTIVE  3:  Adapt  to  climate  change  disturbances  (ongoing).   Actions  to  be  completed  by  the  end  of  2016   • 3.1.  Lobby  for  changes  at  the  state  level  to  amend  existing  building  codes  to  allow  and   encourage  practices  such  as:  passive  solar  design,  rainwater  collection  and  storage,  safe   gray  water  reuse,  solar  clothes  drying,  composting  toilets,  and  solar  access  for   photovoltaics.   • 3.2.  Through  franchise  agreements,  work  with  utility  companies  to  develop  local  smart  grid   technology  and  storage  capacity  for  electricity  (especially  that  which  is  locally  generated   renewably  produced)  and  natural  gas.   • 3.3.  Develop  and  publicize  emergency  shelter  centers.   • 3.4.  Revise  community  development  plans  to  more  strongly  favor  walkable  neighborhoods   and  infill  density  both  in  existing  built  environment  and  also  in  new  development.     Corvallis  Climate  Action  Plan  –  www.CorvallisCAP.org  22     Land  Use  and  Transportation   “Readjusting  the  Corvallis  GHG  inventory  to  take  into  account  the  embodied   emissions  of  personal  motor  vehicles  and  commuter  trips  indicates  that  personal   motor  vehicles  account  for  at  least  28%  of  our  City's  GHG  emissions.”   What  is  the  Land  Use  and  Transportation  Action  Area?   This  section  considers  how  the  community  is  spatially   organized  and  how  that  organization  affects   transportation  needs.  The  transportation  systems  in   this  section  are  those  that  move  people  and  local   freight:  passenger  vehicles,  bicycles,  mass  transit   systems,  air  transport  and  local  freight  distribution   systems,  and  the  roads  and  other  infrastructure   required  for  these  systems.     Although  a  particular  land  use  may  directly  impact   consumption  of  fossil  fuels  and  emission  of  GHGs,  in   most  cases,  the  more  important  impacts  of  land  uses   are  on  the  demand  for  transportation  systems.  Land  use  directly  impacts  transportation  system   needs,  and  transportation  systems  contribute  significantly  to  fossil  fuel  consumption  and  GHG   emissions.  As  the  two  are  so  connected,  this  plan  will  consider  them  together  and  outline  action   items  for  each  that  will  affect  the  other.   How  Does  Land  Use  and  Transportation  Contribute  to  GHG  Emissions?   GHG  emissions  related  to  transportation  fall  into  two  main  categories:  transportation  of  people  and   transportation  of  goods.  Here  we  focus  on  transportation  of  people  because  the  transportation  of   goods  falls  more  appropriately  under  Food  and  Agriculture  and  Consumption  and  Solid  Waste.   Hereon  in,  we  will  refer  to  the  transportation  of  people  simply  as  transportation.  Further,  we  focus   on  those  GHG  emissions  that  are  within  the  control  of  the  City  of  Corvallis,  namely  those  GHGs   caused  by  transportation  for  residents  of  Corvallis,  commuters  to  Corvallis,  students  in  Corvallis   and  visitors  to  Corvallis.   Transportation  produces  GHGs  through  direct  emissions  (during  the  transportation  itself)  and   indirect  emissions  (in  the  production  of  the  vehicles  used  for  transportation).  Transportation   decisions  are  also  affected  by  land-­‐use  decisions.  Lack  of  nearby  services  causes  people  to  travel   further  to  meet  their  needs.  Resistance  to  medium-­‐  and  high-­‐density  housing  causes  urban  sprawl,   increasing  the  distances  that  people  need  to  travel  for  work,  school  and  errands.  The  green  belt   around  our  city  physically  prevents  this  sprawl,  but  simply  means  that  our  growth  is  diverted  to   nearby  “sleeper”  communities  (e.g.,  Albany  and  Lebanon).     Corvallis  Climate  Action  Plan  –  www.CorvallisCAP.org  23   What  Part  of  Corvallis’s  GHG  Footprint  Comes  from  Transportation?   In  short,  at  least  one  third  of  our  GHG  emissions  are  due  to  transportation.  In  the  recent  GHG   inventory  for  Corvallis,  we  see  that  transportation  is  responsible  for  11.6%  of  emissions  and  64%  of   those  emissions  are  from  our  personal  motor  vehicles  (PMVs).  However  these  numbers  include   neither  vehicle-­miles  traveled  outside  the  city  limits  nor  the  GHG  emissions  released  during  the   manufacture  of  vehicles.  Back  of  the  envelope  calculations  show  us  that  11.6%  is  a  significant   underestimate  of  the  transportation  GHGs  for  which  Corvallis  residents,  employers  and  policies  are   responsible.   More  than  17,000  people  commute  from   surrounding  communities  to  work  in   Corvallis,  while  nearly  10,000  people  live  in   Corvallis  but  work  in  other  cities.21  Almost   all  of  these  people  commute  by  car.  The   reasons  for  these  car  commuters  are   largely  under  the  control  of  Corvallis:   housing  is  expensive  and  lacking  in   Corvallis  as  compared  with  nearby   communities,  and  transportation  between   Corvallis  and  neighboring  towns  is  infrequent.  Adding  these  commuter  miles  to  the  Corvallis   community's  GHG  tally  nearly  doubles  the  emissions  estimated  in  the  inventory  (using  very   conservative  estimates  for  distance  traveled).   More  than  20,000  students  attend  Oregon  State  University  and  most  bring  their  cars.  Another  8,000   cars  come  into  Corvallis  for  OSU  athletic  events,  often  driving  from  Portland  because  there  are  few   options  for  intercity  public  transportation  and  those  that  exist  are  expensive.  While  Albany  has   more  than  a  dozen  buses  or  trains  to  Portland,  Salem   and  Eugene  every  day,  Corvallis  has  only  three—one   can  take  up  to  3  hours  (Valley  Retriever)  and  the  other   two  (Greyhound)  travel  the  length  of  the  coast,   frequently  do  not  have  seats  available,  and  are  rarely  on   time.  Transit  between  Corvallis  and  Albany  does  not   link  up  with  the  transit  hub  that  Albany  has  become.   Rough  estimates  of  GHG  emissions  due  to  student  and   OSU  game  day  travel  could  easily  be  as  much  as  the   commuting  miles  of  the  Corvallis  workforce.                                                                                                                               21  “Planning  how  we’ll  get  around,”  Corvallis  Gazette-­Times,  January  7,  2014:   http://www.gazettetimes.com/news/local/planning-­‐how-­‐we-­‐ll-­‐get-­‐around/article_e6d72e56-­‐771f-­‐11e3-­‐ 9dfd-­‐001a4bcf887a.html.     Corvallis  Climate  Action  Plan  –  www.CorvallisCAP.org  24     The  embodied  emissions  from  the  manufacturing  of  a  car  can  be  as  much  as  the  GHG  emitted  by  the   car's  travel22,  which  is  why  this  plan  does  not  advocate  for  mass  expansion  of  electric  vehicles  as  a   solution  to  the  transportation  question.  Moreover,  the  GHGs  from  the  manufacture  of  an  electric   vehicle  and  its  batteries  are  nearly  double  those  of  a  conventional  vehicle23.  These  GHGs  are   counted  in  the  “food  and  goods”  category  of  the  Corvallis  community  inventory.  Transferring  this  to   transportation  and  adding  the  emissions  from  the  manufacture  of  cars  that  commute  to  Corvallis   would  add  about  the  same  amount  of  GHG  emissions  as  those  from  miles  traveled  within  city  limits.   Current  State  of  Corvallis   Readjusting  the  Corvallis  GHG  Inventory  to  take  into  account  the  embodied  emissions  of  personal   motor  vehicles  and  commuter  trips  indicates  that  personal  motor  vehicles  account  for  at  least  28%   of  our  City's  GHG  emissions,  nearly  2.5  times  that  of  the  inventory's  estimate.  This  does  not  include   the  GHGs  emitted  by  non-­‐work  trips  between  Corvallis  and  locations  beyond.   Corvallis  has  a  relatively  high  proportion  of  bicycle  commuters  (9%).  However,  in  the  League  of   American  Bicyclists’  recent  re-­‐certification  of  our  Gold-­‐level  status  (one  level  below  the  top,   Platinum,  which  Portland,  Boulder  and  Davis  have  earned),  our  city  was  warned  that  we  have   stagnated  and  risk  losing  our  Bicycle  Friendly  Community  status.  Our  ridership  growth  over  the  past   12  years  has  been  29%,  as  compared  with  61%  growth  nationally  and  85%  among  other  Bicycle   Friendly  Communities.  Corvallis  has  made  little  investment  in  bicycle  infrastructure  and  still  does   not  have  protected  bike  lanes  or  bicycle  boulevards,  which  are  key  to  increasing  ridership.   Corvallis  also  boasts  high  in-­‐town  transit  ridership,  with  more  than  one  million  rides  per  year   (compared  to  Albany's  400,000  per  year),  largely  thanks  to  its  fare-­‐less  system.  Because  of  this  high   transit  ridership,  Corvallis  is  eligible  for  federal  grants  that  will  allow  Corvallis  to  expand  service.   However,  as  already  noted,  intra-­‐city  transit  to  and  from  Corvallis  is  inadequate.  Despite  the  high   number  of  commuters  to  Corvallis  from  Albany,  there  are  few  direct  trips  per  day;  there  are  no   direct  buses  to  Lebanon,  another  common  commuter  origin.   How  Will  Climate  Change  Affect  Land  Use  and  Transportation?   Studies  of  potential  climate  change  scenarios  for  the  Willamette  Valley  indicate  that  the  Corvallis   community  may  experience  more  severe  storm  events  and  resultant  flooding,  as  well  as  an  increase   in  forest  fires.    This  analysis  suggests  that  transportation  systems  will  be  impacted,  especially  roads   and  railroads,  and  those  along  rivers  and  streams,  or  on  unstable  slopes,  will  be  especially   vulnerable.  Increased  storms  and  wildfire  smoke  may  also  affect  air  travel  and  transport  of  goods.   To  minimize  the  impacts  to  the  transportation  system,  planning  and  design  efforts  must  consider   these  scenarios.                                                                                                                             22  CoolClimate  Carbon  Footprint  Calculator:  http://coolclimate.berkeley.edu/carboncalculator.   23  “CMU/Ford  study  assesses  optimal  mix  of  conventional,  hybrid,  plug-­‐in  hybrid  and  electric  vehicles  for   minimizing  GHG  and  cost,”  Green  Car  Congress,  31  October  2012:   http://www.greencarcongress.com/2012/10/traut-­‐20121031.html.       Corvallis  Climate  Action  Plan  –  www.CorvallisCAP.org  25   In  addition,  the  Willamette  Valley  could  experience  an  influx  of  climate  refugees—people  moving   away  from  areas  that  have  become  less  livable  due  to  sea  level  rise,  severe  storms,  or  prolonged   drought.  Land  use  and  transportation  planning  processes  must  consider  possible  impacts  on  the   community.   Objectives  and  Actions  for  Land  Use  and  Transportation   As  climate  change  progresses,  tariffs  will  be  placed  on  the  causes,  including  fuel.  This  will  increase   the  cost  of  travel  in  conventional  and  hybrid  vehicles  as  well  as  the  cost  of  purchasing  those   vehicles.  However,  our  actions  must  not  wait  until  this  is  the  case,  as  low-­‐income  families  and   individuals  will  continue  to  bear  a  disproportionate  cost  of  transportation  and  housing.  Our  actions   center  around  three  main  objectives:  increasing  the  use  of  active  and  public  transportation,   reducing  the  reliance  and  ownership  of  personal  motor  vehicles,  and  reducing  the  distances  to   destinations  that  residents  need  to  reach.   The  three  objectives  below  are  each  quantifiable.    We  recommend  a  target  date  of  2030,  but  these   metrics  should  be  evaluated  at  least  every  three  years  to  ensure  progress  is  being  made.   OBJECTIVE  4  Increase  biking,  walking,  and  transit  use.  By  2030,  80%  of  trips  under  2   miles  to  be  made  without  a  car  and  75%  of  commuters  to  Corvallis  will  do  so  by  mass   transit.   Actions  to  be  completed  by  the  end  of  2016   • 4.1.  Modify  the  transportation  plan  to  prioritize   the  needs  of  bicyclists  and  pedestrians.   • 4.2.  Add  barriers  between  bike  and  vehicle   lanes  (e.g.,  painted  buffers,  parking  lanes,  or   concrete).   Actions  to  be  completed  by  the  end  of  2020   • 4.3.  Establish  motor  vehicle-­‐free  streets  downtown,  with  exceptions  for  transit,  deliveries   (possibly  with  time-­‐of-­‐day  limitations),  emergency  vehicles,  disability  access.   • 4.4.  Create  a  network  of  bicycle  boulevards  that  allow  for  nearly  stop-­‐free  bicycle  trips   between  all  destinations  in  town,  have  low  motor-­‐vehicle  volumes  and  speeds.  For  example,   by  forcing  turns  for  motor  vehicles  and  upgrading  crossings  of  arterial  streets  to  4-­‐way   stops  or  cyclist-­‐activated  hawk-­‐crossings.  Roll  these  out  immediately  using  low-­‐cost   infrastructure  including  simple  through-­‐way  barriers,24  painting  bicycle/pedestrian   crosswalks  and  signage.  Consider  community-­‐sponsored  installments  for  exhibition   purposes.                                                                                                                             24  “Going  Street  bike  boulevard  gets  crossing  help  with  new  median,“  BikePortland.org,  November  17,  2011:   http://bikeportland.org/2011/11/17/portlands-­‐best-­‐bike-­‐boulevard-­‐just-­‐got-­‐better-­‐62240       Corvallis  Climate  Action  Plan  –  www.CorvallisCAP.org  26   • 4.5.  Expand  the  Corvallis  Transit  System;  increase  the  frequency  of  trips,  expand  routes,   extend  schedule  into  evenings  and  Sundays.  Consider  expanding  on-­‐demand  “dial-­‐a-­‐ride,”   perhaps  by  first  extending  service  to  car-­‐free  households.   Actions  to  be  completed  by  2030   • 4.6.  Develop  separated  multi-­‐use  paths  between  Corvallis  and  neighboring  communities   and  areas  such  as  Albany,  Lebanon,  Adair  and  the  airport.   OBJECTIVE  5:  Decrease  ownership  of  personal  motor  vehicles.  By  2030,  40%  of   households  will  be  car-­‐free  and  40%  of  households  will  have  only  one  car.   Actions  to  be  completed  by  the  end  of  2016   • 5.1.  Establish  a  city-­‐wide  car  sharing  infrastructure.  Either  use  an  existing  car-­‐sharing   company  (such  as  GetAround)  or  develop  a  city-­‐owned  infrastructure.  Proceeds  from  the   car  share  could  fund  other  parts  of  this  action  plan.   • 5.2.  Create  true  transit-­‐connections  to  bus  and  train  departures  at  the  Albany  transit  center.   Actions  to  be  completed  by  the  end  of  2020   • 5.3.  Create  direct  connections  to  popular  destinations  with  seasonal  timetables  to  support   transportation  of  students  and  visitors  to  Corvallis.   OBJECTIVE  6:  Create  walkable  and  bikeable  neighborhoods.  By  2030,  90%  of   households  will  be  within  15  minutes’  reach  of  basic,  daily  non-­‐work  needs  by  bike  or   foot.   Actions  to  be  completed  by  the  end  of  2016   • 6.1.  Change  zoning  standards  to  allow  neighborhood  cafes,  food  stands,  and  small-­‐business   retail.   • 6.2.  Change  zoning  standards  to  allow  for  increased  housing  density  in  urban  core  and   transit  corridors.   • 6.3.  Reduce  the  width  of  neighborhood  streets  to  calm  traffic,  increase  water  absorption  and   increase  green  space.    Change  city  street  standards  to  encourage  this.   Actions  to  be  completed  by  the  end  of  2020   • 6.4.  Develop  high-­‐quality  medium  and  high-­‐density  owner-­‐occupied  and  rental  housing  for   all  income  brackets.   Corvallis  Climate  Action  Plan  –  www.CorvallisCAP.org  27     Consumption  and  Solid  Waste   “Taken  together,  non-­food  consumption  and  solid  waste  are  the  largest  source   of  emissions  from  the  Corvallis  community,  just  ahead  of  electricity  use.”   What  is  the  Consumption  and  Solid  Waste  Action  Area?   This  section  includes  the  entire  lifecycle  of  the   products  we  purchase  and  consume,  whether   local  or  imported.  The  lifecycle  begins  with   the  mining  and  extraction  of  the  raw   materials  and  includes  other  steps,  such  as   manufacturing,  packaging,  transport  and  use.   The  lifecycle  ends  with  disposal  of  each   element  of  the  product  that  remains.   How  Do  Consumption  and  Solid   Waste  Contribute  to  GHG  Emissions?   Consumption   Until  recently,  many  greenhouse  gas  inventories  focused  on  the  direct  emissions  that  come  from  the   use  of  fossil  fuels.  Using  this  methodology,  the  inventories  have  shown  most  emissions  to  come   from  transportation  and  electricity,  overlooking  what  the  fossil  fuels  are  ultimately  used  for,  which   is  quite  often  materials  extraction,  manufacturing,  packaging,  and  distribution  of  consumer  goods.     However,  according  to  an  EPA  report   from  2009,  Opportunities  to  Reduce   Greenhouse  Gas  Emissions  through   Materials  and  Land  Management   Practices,  non-­‐food  products  account   for  some  37%  of  our  greenhouse   emissions25.  The  Products  Policy   Institute  took  this  a  step  further  and   figured  in  imports  in  a  2009  report   titled,  Products,  Packaging  and  US   Greenhouse  Gas  Emissions.  They  found                                                                                                                             25  Opportunities  to  Reduce  Greenhouse  Gas  Emissions  through  Materials  and  Land  Management  Practices,  U.S.   Environmental  Protection  Agency  Office  of  Solid  Waste  and  Emergency  Response,  September  2009,   http://www.epa.gov/oswer/docs/GHG_land_and_materials_management.pdf   Products  Policy  Institute,  2009     Corvallis  Climate  Action  Plan  –  www.CorvallisCAP.org  28   that  44%  of  the  US  carbon  footprint  could  be  attributed  to  non-­‐food  products26.  That  is  roughly   equal  to  the  categories  of  building  HVAC  (Heating,  Ventilation,  Air  Conditioning)  and  personal   transportation  combined.  If  you  also  add  in  provision  of  food,  and  landfill  emissions  of  discarded   products  and  associated  packaging,  Consumption  and  Solid  Waste  become  the  largest  source  of  our   emissions.   Solid  Waste   GHG  inventories  include  the  emissions  from  waste  management  activities.  This  includes  emissions   from  the  process  of  collection,  transportation  and  processing  of  solid  waste.  The  majority  of   emissions  in  waste  management  are  from  landfill  emissions,  which  result  from  the  release  of   methane  during  the  decomposition  process.  Solid  waste  generated  in  Corvallis  is  deposited  at  the   Coffin  Butte  Landfill.   In  addition  to  calculating  emissions  from  the  waste  itself,  the  method  used  to  determine  the   Corvallis  community’s  emissions  includes  the  transport  and  process  emissions  that  come  from   powering  the  equipment  to  manage  the  landfill.  The  emissions  related  to  solid  waste  collection  and   transportation  are  accounted  for  in  the  Freight  and  Service  Trucks  emissions  and  are  not  itemized   separately.  Because  of  the  lack  of  widely  accepted  and  standardized  data  and  guidance,  the  Protocol   does  not  include  methodologies  to  estimate  emissions  from  composting.     What  Part  of  Corvallis’s  GHG  Footprint  Comes  from  Consumption  and  Waste?   According  to  the  community  greenhouse   gas  inventory,  about  1  percent  of  emissions   are  associated  with  solid  waste,  and  27   percent  can  be  attributed  to  non-­‐food   goods  and  services.  This  aligns  closely  with   the  Metro  Regional  Government’s  estimate   in  2010  that  provision  of  goods  (excluding   food)  accounts  for  25  percent  of  GHG   emissions  in  the  region  and  solid  waste   accounts  for  1.3  percent.  27  Taken  together,   non-­‐food  consumption  and  solid  waste  are   the  largest  source  of  emissions  from  the   Corvallis  community,  just  ahead  of  electricity  use.                                                                                                                             26  Products,  Packaging  and  US  Greenhouse  Gas  Emissions,  Product  Policy  Institute,   http://www.productpolicy.org/ppi/general/PPI_Climate_Change_and_Products_White_Paper_September_20 09.pdf   27  “Regional  Greenhouse  Gas  Inventory:  The  Carbon  Footprint  of  Residents  and  Businesses  Inside  the   Portland  Metropolitan  Region,”  Metro  Regional  Government,  April  2010.     Corvallis  Climate  Action  Plan  –  www.CorvallisCAP.org  29   Consumption   The  Corvallis  community  greenhouse  gas  inventory  uses  the  Government  Supply  Chain  emissions   estimate  from  the  2008  City  of  Corvallis  Greenhouse  Gas  Inventory  for  Municipal  Government   Operations.  To  estimate  household  consumption  for  the  community,  City  staff  used  the  CoolClimate   Carbon  Footprint  Calculator28,  but  omitted  some  categories  in  the  calculator  to  avoid  double   counting  of  emissions.  For  example,  natural  gas  emissions  are  already  included  in  the  ICLEI   Protocol  in  the  category  for  Stationary  Fuel  Combustion.   The  Corvallis  GHG  inventory  includes  food  in  its  estimate  of  household  consumption,  whereas  this   Climate  Action  Plan  breaks  out  Food  and  Agriculture  as  a  separate  topic  area.  Therefore,  this   Consumption  and  Solid  Waste  topic  area  does  include  food  in  its  Household  Consumption  category.   The  table  below  shows  the  categories  that  were  and  were  not  included  as  Household  Consumption   emissions  sources.   Included in Household Consumption Not included in Household Consumption Car manufacturing Car fuel Construction Water Goods Natural gas Services Electricity Other fuels Food Note: Air travel is included as a separate category rather than as a part of Household Consumption.   Solid  Waste   Emissions  from  community-­‐generated  solid  waste  sent  to  the  landfill  and  process  emissions   associated  with  landfilling  were  estimated  from  the  waste  tonnage  reported  in  Republic  Services   2012  Annual  Report.   How  Will  Climate  Change  Affect  Consumption  and  Solid  Waste?   To  the  extent  that  climate  change  impacts  energy  production  and  distribution  and  food  and   agriculture,  it  may  increase  economic  hardships  and  food  insecurity.  We  can  prepare  by   establishing  strong  community  connections  that  encourage  sharing  of  resources,  especially  those   that  ensure  that  people  receive  adequate  amounts  of  food.                                                                                                                             28  CoolClimate  Network:  http://coolclimate.berkeley.edu     Corvallis  Climate  Action  Plan  –  www.CorvallisCAP.org  30   Objectives  and  Actions  for  Consumption  and  Solid  Waste   OBJECTIVE  7:  By  the  end  of  2020,  the  recycling  rate  for  Corvallis  will  be  75  percent.   Recycling  rate  is  defined  as  total  pounds  of  waste  recovered  (recycled,  composted  or  reused)  divided  by   the  total  waste  generated  (recovered  and  landfilled).  The  baseline  for  this  action  is  the  2007  rate  of   45.2%.  This  objective  reflects  the  goals  of  the  Corvallis  Sustainability  Coalition  Action  Plan  of  2013.     The  goal  will  be  achieved  by  increasing  collection  yard  waste  and  compost  through  existing  curbside   collection  programs  and  diverting  landfill  bound  construction  waste.  Because  the  Corvallis   Sustainability  Coalition’s  Waste  Prevention  Team  will  be  offering  the  community  and  business  owners   education  on  composting  and  recycling,  this  plan  additionally  proposes  that  policies  be  put  in  place  to   make  composting  and  recycling  mandatory.   Actions  to  be  completed  by  the  end  of  2016   • 7.1.  Research  and  implement  ways  to  make  recycling  easier  for  people.    Examples  include   providing  pictures  on  bins  so  people  know  which  bins  to  use  and  more  recycling  and   compost  bins  available  in  public  spaces.             • 7.2.  Provide  education  and  resources  to  construction  companies  about  recycling  and  reuse   opportunities  for  construction  waste.   • 7.3.  Provide  education  and  waste  audits  for  business  owners  to  increase  compost  and   recycling  rates  and  provide  financial  incentives.   • 7.4.  Research  policies  requiring  composting  and/or  recycling  as  currently  practiced  in  cities   such  as  San  Francisco  and  Seattle  and  implement  a  similar  policy  in  Corvallis.       Actions  to  be  completed  by  the  end  of  2020   • 7.5.  Research  mandatory  composting  and/or  recycling  programs  of  other  cities;  enact  a   policy  with  increased  requirements  and  penalties.   • 7.6.  Research  construction  and  demolition  debris  ordinances  in  other  cities;  enact  a  similar   policy  requiring  recycling  and/or  reuse  of  these  materials  to  divert  them  from  the  landfill.   OBJECTIVE  8:  Reduce  total  solid  waste  generated  by  25  percent  by  the  end  of  2020.   Total  solid  waste  generated  refers  to  both  the  amount  of   materials  sent  to  landfills  and  the  amount  of  materials   recovered  (i.e.,  recycled,  composted,  converted  to  energy  or   otherwise  put  to  a  use  other  than  the  original  intended   purpose).  It  can  be  valuable  to  look  at  total  waste,  which   serves  as  a  reflection  of  consumption  rates.  As  stated  above,   consumption  is  a  very  large  part  of  our  carbon  footprints.   This  is  a  bit  different,  but  not  contradictory  to  the  Corvallis   Sustainability  Coalition’s  action  plan,  which  calls  for  a  50%   per  capita  reduction  in  landfill-­bound  disposals  only.     Actions  to  be  completed  by  the  end  of  2016   • 8.1.  Use  outreach  programs  to  emphasize  reducing  consumption  first,  followed  by  reuse,   upcycling,  repair  and  finally  choosing  sustainable  goods  built  to  last.   • 8.2.  Restructure  the  City  franchise  agreement  to  provide  incentives  to  encourage  waste     Corvallis  Climate  Action  Plan  –  www.CorvallisCAP.org  31   reduction  (e.g.,  increase  rates  for  high-­‐volume  customers).     • 8.3.  Establish  an  education  program  to  demonstrate  how  our  consumption  habits  contribute   to  our  carbon  footprints.  Encourage  people  to  rethink  the  ideas  of  growth  and  economy.   • 8.4.  Establish  better  ways  of  measuring  consumption  in  Corvallis  and  incorporate  into   future  greenhouse  gas  inventories.   • 8.5.  Provide  information  to  local  manufacturers  on  reducing  carbon  footprint  of  items   produced.   • 8.6.  Identify  high‐carbon  product  categories  and  develop  and  disseminate  information  that   will  aid  consumers  and  retailers  in  making  purchasing  decisions.   Actions  to  be  completed  by  the  end  of  2020   • 8.7.  Support  State  efforts  to  develop  a  consumption‐based  GHG  inventory  methodology  and   to  adopt  standards,  incentives,  and/or  mandates  for  carbon  footprinting  and  labeling  of   products.     • 8.8.  Support  State  efforts  to  advocate  for  a  carbon  price  signal  across  the  life  cycle  of   products  and  materials  (either  by  an  emissions  cap  and/or  a  carbon  tax),  including  imports   (border  adjustment  mechanism/carbon  tariff  if  necessary).     Carbon  footprints  can  be  shared  with  customers  either  indirectly  (on  request,  akin  to  a  material  safety   data  sheet)  or  via  a  carbon  label  (akin  to  a  nutrition  label)  printed  on  the  product  or  its  packaging.   Carbon  footprinting  and/or  labeling  is  believed  to  reduce  GHG  emissions  in  several  ways.  First,  as  the   producer  examines  the  greenhouse  gas  emissions  associated  with  a  product,  it  gains  better   understanding  of  the  causes  of  these  emissions  and  opportunities  to  reduce  them.  Second,  knowing   that  customers  (consumers,  other  businesses)  may  use  the  carbon  footprint  (or  label)  in  product   selection,  producers  are  incented  to  reduce  their  emissions.  Finally,  customers  may  use  the  footprint  or   label  to  reduce  the  GHG  emissions  associated  with  their  own  purchases.29                                                                                                                             29  “Materials  Management  Roadmap  to  2020  Report  to  the  Oregon  Global  Warming  Commission,”  Materials   Management  Technical  Committee  of  the  Oregon  Global  Warming  Commission,  October  2010:   http://www.keeporegoncool.org/sites/default/files/Materials%20Management%20Roadmap_092710.pdf.       Corvallis  Climate  Action  Plan  –  www.CorvallisCAP.org  32     Food  and  Agriculture   “Food  production  and  processing  is  responsible  for  83%  of  the     average  US  household’s  footprint  for  food  consumption.”   What  is  the  Food  and  Agriculture  Action  Area?   This  section  addresses  the  production,   delivery,  distribution,  preparation,  and   disposal  of  food  and  beverages  for  residential,   commercial  and  institutional  use.  Food  and   agriculture  contributes  to  climate  change  and   is  also  affected  by  climate  change.     How  Do  Food  and  Agriculture   Contribute  to  GHG  Emissions?   Food  and  agriculture  accounts  for  close  to   one-­‐quarter  of  all  GHG  emissions  globally,   according  to  the  IPCC’s  latest  assessment  report.  The  emissions  in  this  sector  come  from  such   diverse  sources  as  enteric  rumination  (methane  emissions  from  livestock),  farm  management   techniques  (e.g.,  fertilizer  application),  processing  and  cooking,  as  well  as  transport  of  food   products.  A  common  misconception  is  that  transportation  of  food  (also  called  Food  Miles)  is   responsible  for  the  majority  of  food-­‐related  GHG  emissions.  Instead,  food  production  and   processing  is  responsible  for  83%  of  the  average  US  household’s  footprint  for  food  consumption.   GHG  emissions  from  food  production  include  those  generated  by  energy  use  for  farming  equipment,   manufacture  of  fertilizers,  pesticides  and  other  agricultural  chemicals,  production  of  animal  feed,   and  methane  generated  by  livestock  animals  and  manure  management.  In  fact,  methane  produced   by  livestock  “enteric  rumination”  and  farmers’  management  of  manure  account  for  about  one-­‐fifth   of  total  food-­‐related  GHG  emissions30.   What  Part  of  Corvallis’s  GHG  Footprint  Comes  from  Food  and  Agriculture?   The  Corvallis  community  greenhouse  gas  inventory  estimated  emissions  associated  with  the   manufacturing  and  production  of  food  consumed  by  Corvallis  households.  Using  national  average   emissions  per  household  data  from  the  CoolClimate  Carbon  Footprint  Calculator,  the  inventory   found  that  household  food  consumption,  production  and  disposal  accounts  for  13%  of  the   community’s  GHG  emissions.  Emissions  for  food  consumed  by  local  government  and  businesses   were  not  included  in  the  estimate,  nor  were  the  emissions  associated  with  landfilling  or  composting   of  food  waste,  so  total  food  and  agriculture  emissions  are  likely  higher.                                                                                                                               30    “Food-­‐Miles  and  the  Relative  Climate  Impacts  of  Food  Choices  in  the  United  States,”  Environmental  Science   &  Technology,  April  16,  2008:  http://pubs.acs.org/doi/full/10.12021/es702969f.     Corvallis  Climate  Action  Plan  –  www.CorvallisCAP.org  33   How  Will  Climate  Change  Impact  Food  and  Agriculture?   Climate  change  is  expected  to  result  in  floods,  drought,  decreased  snowpack,  extreme  heat,  and   wildfires,  which  will  all  impact  food  and  agriculture.    Some  predicted  effects  in  the  Northwest   include:  a  reduction  in  snowpack  which  will  diminish  water  supplies  for  irrigation;  damage  to  crops   sensitive  to  higher  day  and  nighttime  temperatures;  a  longer  growing  season  for  some  crops  ;  and   different  pest  and  disease  pressures  for  crops  and  animals31.   To  the  extent  that  climate  change  impacts  energy   production  and  distribution,  food  and  agriculture  might   also  be  negatively  impacted.  Increasing  costs  for  fuel,   including  diesel,  gas  and  natural  gas,  would  have  a   significant  impact  on  the  price  of  food.  Transportation  of   freight  via  air  and  truck  is  expected  to  become  more  costly   and  to  cause  food  prices  to  rise.  Increased  costs  for   fertilizer,  animal  feed,  and  processing  will  put  upward   pressure  on  food  costs.     Objectives  and  Actions  for  Food  and  Agriculture   Various  actions  can  be  taken  to  reduce  the  GHG  emissions  related  to  food  and  agriculture,  as  well  as   adapt  food  systems  for  projected  impacts  of  climate  change.  Priority  mitigation  and  adaptation   objectives  for  food  and  agriculture  in  the  context  of  climate  change  include:   • Reduce  consumption  of  carbon-­‐intensive  foods;   • Increase  the  percentage  of  food  consumed  in  Corvallis  that  is  grown,  processed,  or     • produced  locally;   • Encourage  the  use  of  more  sustainable  production  practices;  and   • Minimize,  reuse  and  recycle  food  waste   These  strategies  are  further  detailed  in  the  Objectives  and  Actions  that  follow.  These  Objectives  and   Actions  are  not  mutually  exclusive  and  should  be  seen  instead  as  very  much  working  together.  For   example,  a  reduction  in  overall  meat  consumption  is  important  (see  Objective  1),  but  for  meat  that   will  continue  to  be  consumed,  it  should  be  produced  locally  (see  Objective  2)  and  as  sustainably  as   possible  (see  Objective  3). OBJECTIVE  9:  Reduce  consumption  of  carbon-­‐intensive  foods  by  25  percent  by  2020   and  by  50  percent  by  2030.   Growing  evidence  shows  that  the  kind  of  food  we  eat  makes  a  significant  difference  in  the  associated   GHG  emissions.  The  city  and  its  residents  must  therefore  reduce  consumption  of  carbon-­intensive   foods,  such  as  dairy  products,  red  meat  and  highly  processed  foods.  Shifting  13-­15%  of  red  meat  and                                                                                                                             31    Preparing  for  Climate  Change  in  the  Upper  Willamette  River  Basin  of  Western  Oregon,  Co-­Beneficial  Planning   for  Communities  and  Ecosystems,  The  Resource  Innovation  Group,  et  al.,  March  2009:   http://www.theresourceinnovationgroup.org/storage/willamette_report3.11final.pdf     Corvallis  Climate  Action  Plan  –  www.CorvallisCAP.org  34   dairy  consumption  to  other  foods  would  achieve  the  same  GHG  reduction  as  totally  eliminating  the   transport  of  food  (source).   Actions  to  be  completed  by  the  end  of  2016   • 9.1.  Establish  quantitative  metrics  and  a  baseline  for  consumption  of  carbon-­‐intensive   foods.   • 9.2.  Begin  a  community-­‐wide  campaign  to  encourage  the  public  to  choose  less  carbon-­‐ intensive  foods  as  part  of  a  climate-­‐friendly  lifestyle.    Specifically  encourage  consumption  of   alternatives  to  red  meat  and  dairy  products,  which  are  especially  carbon-­‐intensive.   • 9.3.  Implement  a  “Buy  climate-­‐friendly”  food  purchasing  policy  for  public  institutions   including  city  and  county  governments,  schools,  and  hospitals.         OBJECTIVE  10:  Increase  the  percentage  of  food  consumed  in  Corvallis  that  is  grown,   processed,  or  produced  locally  (i.e.,  Benton,  Lane,  Lincoln,  Linn,  Marion,  and  Polk   counties)  to  40  percent  by  2020,  and  to  75  percent  by  2030.   Consuming  food  produced  by  local  businesses  or  residents  can  reduce  food-­related  emissions  as  well  as   improve  resilience  and  community  health.  It  is  estimated  that  less  than  10%  of  food  consumed  in   Corvallis  is  grown,  processed,  or  produced  locally.   Actions  to  be  completed  by  the  end  of  2016   • 10.1.  Establish  quantitative  metrics  and  a  baseline  for  consumption  of  locally  sourced  food.   • 10.2.  Expand  and  promote  community  gardens  on  public  and  private  lands  including  school   campuses,  City  lands,  and  church  properties.   • 10.3.  Provide  educational  opportunities  for  residents,  particularly  school  children,  to  learn   local  food  growing,  preparation  and  preservation  skills.   • 10.4.  Support  the  development  of  the  South  Corvallis  Neighborhood  Food  Center.   Actions  to  be  completed  by  the  end  of  2020   • 10.5.  Model  and  promote  edible  landscaping.  Plant  non-­‐invasive  food-­‐bearing  trees  and   shrubs  on  public  and  private  lands     • 10.6.  Assess  and  amend  City  policies  to  ensure  that  they  allow  for,  where  appropriate,   production  of  food  within  the  city  limits.  Provide  funding  to  Corvallis  farmers’  markets  to   increase  shopping  by  low-­‐income  customers  and  to  provide  education  on  how  to  prepare   local  foods.   • 10.7.  Support  efforts  to  rebuild  local  food  infrastructure  such  as  flour  mills  and  canneries.         Other  Benefits   • Healthy  people  -­‐  Lower  meat  consumption  has  also   been  associated  with  better  health  outcomes  for   people.   Building  Resilience   • Enhanced  food  security   • Stronger  community  connections   • Preserves  agricultural  land   Other  Benefits   • Healthier  people  –  physical  activity   from  gardening;  greater  access  to   fresh  fruits  and  vegetables   • Economic  development     Corvallis  Climate  Action  Plan  –  www.CorvallisCAP.org  35   Other  Benefits   • Improved  water  quality   • Improved  wildlife  habitat   • Reduced  toxics  exposure  for   consumers/farm  workers/wildlife           OBJECTIVE  11:  By  2030,  all  landowners  in  Corvallis  and  all  farmers  in  the  Willamette   Valley  will  manage  their  lands  using  sustainable  agricultural  practices.   While  most  agriculture  occurs  outside  Corvallis’  urban  areas,  local  governments  and  Corvallis   residents  can  encourage  the  use  of  more  sustainable  agriculture  practices  through  purchasing   decisions,  education,  and  advocacy.   Actions  to  be  completed  by  the  end  of  2016   • 11.1.  Encourage  producers  to  transition  to  agricultural  production  methods  that  reduce   GHGs  by  working  with  partners  such  as  the  Oregon  Department  of  Agriculture,  Oregon   Tilth,  Oregon  State  University  Extension  Service,  and  the  Southern  Willamette  Valley  Bean   and  Grain  Project.     • 11.2.  Incentivize  projects  that  improve  the  diversity,  drought  resistance  and  emissions   intensity  of  food  crops  grown  in  the  upper  Willamette  Valley.   • 11.3.  Encourage  consumer  purchases  of  products  produced  using  more  sustainable   agricultural  practices.   • 11.4.  Require  sustainable  landscaping  practices  be  used  in  City  operations.  Some  of  these   practices  include  incorporating  native  and/or  drought  tolerant  plants  into  landscaped  areas   and  leaving  grass  clippings  on  lawns  to  return  nutrients.   • 11.5.  Partner  with  neighborhood  associations  to  incorporate  food  production  and   maintenance  into  neighborhood  parks  and  the  Parks  and  Recreation  Master  Plan.   Actions  to  be  completed  by  the  end  of  2020   • 11.6.  Advocate  for  agricultural  policies  that  promote  or  require  more  sustainable   agricultural  practices.   • 11.7.  Provide  new  homeowners  and  property  managers  with  resources  about  sustainable   landscaping  and  permaculture  practices.       CURRENT  HIGHLIGHT   Southern  Willamette  Valley  Bean  &  Grain  Project  is  rebuilding  the   local  food  system  by  stimulating  the  cultivation  and  local  marketing  of   organically  grown  staple  crops  like  beans  and  grains  to  provide  a   foundation  for  year-­‐round  food  resources  in  the  Willamette  Valley.   Building  Resilience   • Less  reliance  on  fossil  fuels  for   production     Corvallis  Climate  Action  Plan  –  www.CorvallisCAP.org  36   Building  Resilience   • More  efficient  agricultural   system  –  increasing  food   availability  and  conserving   inputs,  such  as  water.   Other  Benefits   • Economic  savings  from  maximizing   use  of  food  and  food  waste.   CURRENT  HIGHLIGHT     A  waste-­‐digesting  system  or  biogas  plant  for  the   community,  such  as  the  one  that  Stahlbush  Island   Farms  operates,  could  provide  methane  from   decomposing  food  waste  for  use  as  a  locally   generated  fuel  source.       OBJECTIVE  12:  Reduce  food  waste  by  50  percent  by  2020,  and  to  as  close  to  zero  as   possible  by  2030.  Re-­‐use/Recycle  50  percent  of  any  food  waste  by  2020  and  all  food   waste  by  2030.   Roughly  one  third  of  the  food  produced  in  the  world  for  human  consumption  is  wasted  (source).    To   reduce  GHG  emissions,  it  is  necessary  to  work  with  all  participants  in  the  food  system  to  minimize  food   waste.  Any  food  waste  that  must  occur  should  be  re-­used/recycled.   Actions  to  be  completed  by  the  end  of  2016   • 12.1.  Require  or  encourage  all  food  businesses  to  compost.   • 12.2.  Support  efforts  to  recycle  food  waste  for  fuel/energy  including  cooking  oil  and  locally   produced  biodiesel/biofuels.   • 12.3.  Facilitate  the  sharing  of  best  practices  among  restaurants,  caterers  and  other   commercial  food  preparation  operations  for  minimizing  and  re-­‐using/recycling  food  waste.   • 12.4.  Support  gleaning  opportunities.   Actions  to  be  completed  by  the  end  of  2020   • 12.5.  Renegotiate  the  franchise  agreement  with  Republic  Services  to  make  sure  it  maximizes   residential  reduction  of  food  waste  and  maximizes  composting  participation.                         Corvallis  Climate  Action  Plan  –  www.CorvallisCAP.org  37     Health  and  Social  Services   “The  various  impacts  of  climate  change  have  the  potential  to  exacerbate    social  inequities  and  to  intensify  social  service  needs.”   What  is  the  Health  and  Social  Services  Action  Area?   The  Health  and  Social  Services  Action  Area  addresses  the  physical  and  mental  health  of  people  in   our  community,  as  well  as  assistance  programs  for  disadvantaged  populations.  This  section   contains  recommendations  to  prepare  health  and  social  systems  for  a  different  future  and  reduce   the  impacts  of  climate-­‐related  disasters.   How  Are  Health  and  Social  Services  Related  to  Climate  Change?   Considering  the  enormity  and  the  urgency  of  the  problem,  taking  a  “whole  systems”  approach  to   climate  change  is  essential;  the  earth’s  ecosystem  (air,  water,  soil,  plants,  animals,  etc.)  is  best   understood  in  the  context  of  the  interrelationships  among  these  various  components,  rather  than  in   isolation.  Since  human  society  is  an  integral  part  of  the  earth’s  ecosystem,  addressing  human  health   requires  us  to  consider  the  health  of  the  other  parts  of  the  system  and  the  many  ways  in  which   humans  affect  and  are  impacted  by  the  various  parts  of  the  system.   The  environmental  impacts  of  a  changing  climate  will  be  matched  by  social  challenges.  The  most   recent  IPCC  report  outlines  the  threats  to  Earth’s  life-­‐support  system,  including  “declines  in   regional  food  yields,  freshwater  shortage,  damage  to  settlements  from  extreme  weather  events  and   loss  of  habitable,  especially  coastal,  land.  The  list  goes  on:  changes  in  infectious  disease  patterns   and  the  mental  health  consequences  of  trauma,  loss,  displacement  and  resource  conflict.  In  short,   human-­‐driven  climate  change  poses  a  great  threat,  unprecedented  in  type  and  scale,  to  well-­‐being,   health  and  perhaps  even  to  human  survival.”   With  predictions  of  prolonged  drought  and  increased  temperatures  in  California  and  the  Southwest,   Oregon  and  the  Willamette  Valley  in  particular  can  expect  a  significant  influx  of  “climate  refugees.”   Increases  in  population  and  changing  demographics  will  place  added  demand  on  food  and  water   supplies  precisely  at  a  time  when  the  Willamette  Valley  is  expected  to  experience  decreased   rainfall,  decreased  snowmelt,  and  prolonged  drought.   Low-­‐income  and  vulnerable  community  members  will  face  disproportionate  impacts  of  climate   change—rising  energy  and  food  prices  and  exposure  to  heat  stroke  in  their  homes,  for  example— while  having  fewer  resources  to  respond  to  these  changes.  The  various  impacts  of  climate  change   have  the  potential  to  exacerbate  social  inequities  and  to  intensify  social  service  needs.   The  IPCC  points  to  three  human  impact  categories  in  particular:   • nutrition  deficits  and  impaired  child  development  due  to  reduced  food  yields;   • injuries,  hospitalizations  and  deaths  due  to  intense  heat  waves,  fires  and  other  weather   disasters;  and     • shifts  in  the  seasonal  duration  and  spatial  range  of  infectious  diseases.     Corvallis  Climate  Action  Plan  –  www.CorvallisCAP.org  38   “There  is  also  mounting  evidence,”  the  authors  note,  “of  the  adverse  health  consequences  of   workplace  exposure  to  heat  extremes,  including  reduced  work  capacity  and  productivity.”  At  a   minimum,  the  health  and  social  service  needs  of  the  Corvallis  community  must  be  addressed  at  the   county  level.  Ideally,  a  broader,  more  regional  approach  should  be  considered.  One  possible  model   is  the  City  of  Portland/Multnomah  County  “Climate  Change  and  Public  Health  Preparation  Plan.”   How  Will  Climate  Change  Affect  Health  and  Social  Services?   The  Benton  County  Health  Department  has  developed  a  Climate  Change  Health  Adaptation  Plan,32   which  focuses  on  adaptation  to  the  impacts  of  climate  change  that  Benton  County  residents  will   experience.  While  the  County  plan  acknowledges  that  reducing  the  drivers  of  climate  change  will   require  substantial  reductions  in  GHG  emissions  on  a  global  level,  the  plan  also  touches  on   mitigation  opportunities  at  the  local  level.   The  Benton  County  Climate  Change  Adaptation  Plan  describes  how  the  different  climate  change   impacts  were  chosen  and  how  Benton  County  Health  Department  will  gather  data  to  help  inform   policy  decisions  that  will  lessen  the  future  health  impacts  of  climate  change.  The  climate  change   impacts  that  were  selected  for  the  focus  of  the  County’s  plan  are:   • Drought  and  reduced  summer  water  supply   • Extreme  heat  events   • Wildfire   • Extreme  precipitation  and  flooding   • Ozone  pollution   • Longer  growing  season       According  to  the  County  plan,  the  three  areas  that  are  expected  to  have  the  most  negative  health   impacts  on  the  community  are  extreme  heat  events,  extreme  precipitation  and  flooding,  and   wildfire.   The  County  plan  outlines  general  actions  that  the  following  agencies  and  departments  can  take  to   help  mitigate  and  address  the  impacts  of  climate  change:  Board  of  Commissioners,  Community   Development,  Health  Services,  Public  Works,  and  the  Sheriff’s  Office.     Objectives  and  Actions  for  Health  and  Social  Services   OBJECTIVE  13:  By  2016,  develop  a  City/County  response  to  the  human  health  and   social  service  needs  that  result  from  climate  change.   Since  Benton  County  has  taken  the  lead  on  addressing  climate  change,  it  is  important  for  the  Corvallis   community  to  build  on  their  efforts  rather  than  to  duplicate  them.  Collaboration  among  both  elected   officials  and  city/county  staffs  will  be  essential  to  creating  an  effective  response  to  health  and  social   service  needs.                                                                                                                             32  Climate  Change  Health  Adaptation  Plan,  Benton  County  Health  Department,  July  26,  2013.     Corvallis  Climate  Action  Plan  –  www.CorvallisCAP.org  39     Actions  to  be  completed  by  the  end  of  2016   • 13.1.  Require  all  City  departments  to  educate  their  employees  about  the  County’s  Climate   Change  Adaptation  Plan  and  to  identify  what  role  each  department  plays  in  addressing   health  and  social  service  needs.   • 13.2.  Create  a  process  for  City  and  County  departments  to  work  together  on  adaptation  and   mitigation  strategies.     • 13.3.  Develop  a  funding  strategy  to  complement  the  funding  needs  outlined  in  the  County   plan.   OBJECTIVE  14:  By  2020,  engage  all  sectors  of  the  community  to  work  together  to   address  human  health  and  social  service  needs  that  result  from  climate  change.   Adaptation  to  the  impacts  of  climate  change  will  require  a  shift  in  the  way  individuals  and   organizations  operate,  from  working  independently  and  in  “silos”  to  adopting  a  more  integrated,   collaborative  response.  Just  as  individuals  and  organizations  in  short-­term  emergencies  respond  to   assist  those  in  crisis,  community  members  and  organizations  will  need  to  be  prepared  to  cooperate   across  perceived  boundaries  to  respond  to  climate-­related  events.       Actions  to  be  completed  by  the  end  of  2016   • 14.1.  Identify  key  organizations  in  the  community  (businesses,  non-­‐profits,  educational   institutions,  faith  communities,  civic  groups,  and  neighborhood  associations)  that  can   provide  the  broadest  possible  outreach  to  community  members  within  its  sector.   • 14.2.  Create  and  distribute  on  an  ongoing  basis  effective  multi-­‐media  outreach  tools  related   to  preparedness  for  climate  change.   Actions  to  be  completed  by  the  end  of  2020   • 14.3.  Use  existing  resources  (e.g.,  Oregon  Public  Health  Association)  to  develop  at  least  one   pilot  project  in  each  sector  to  demonstrate  what  will  be  needed  to  respond  to  climate-­‐ related  emergences  such  as  flooding,  extreme  heat,  and  wildfires.  For  example,  a   neighborhood  association  pilot  project  might  demonstrate  its  readiness  in  case  of  food  and   water  shortages,  including  a  list  of  its  most  vulnerable  members.   OBJECTIVE  15:  By  2030,  develop  alternative  systems  that  can  be  relied  upon  to  meet   basic  needs  such  as  water,  food,  energy,  and  transportation.   During  climate-­related  emergencies,  systems  that  meet  people’s  most  basic  needs  (water,  food,  shelter,   etc.)  may  be  disrupted  or  unavailable.  Having  alternative  systems  in  place  will  be  vital  to  the  resilience   of  the  community.  The  more  people  who  are  able  to  rely  on  alternative  systems,  the  more  able  the   community’s  health  and  social  service  networks  will  be  to  meet  the  needs  of  our  most  vulnerable   populations.     Corvallis  Climate  Action  Plan  –  www.CorvallisCAP.org  40     Actions  to  be  completed  by  the  end  of  2020   • 15.1.  Support  efforts  to  establish  alternative  water  systems.   o 15.1a)  Encourage  rainwater  collection  at  residences,  businesses,  and  institutions.   o 15.1b)  Begin  to  develop  water  purification  systems  on  individual  properties.  For   example,  gravity-­‐based  micro-­‐filter  systems  that  can  be  installed  on  individual   properties  are  designed  to  produce  potable  water  without  the  need  for  external   energy  systems.     o 15.1c)  Begin  to  develop  greywater  systems  for  irrigation  and  other  non-­‐potable   water  needs.     o 15.1d)  Legalize  and  promote  the  installation  of  composting  toilets.   • 15.2.  Strengthen  food  sharing  systems  and  facilities  to  handle  increased  demand.   o 15.2a)  Distribute  the  2014  Community  Food  Assessment  of  Benton  County,  compiled   by  Ten  Rivers  Food  Web,  to  educate  community  members  about  the  current  status   of  food  security  in  the  Corvallis  area.     o 15.2b)  Increase  support  to  existing  food  assistance  programs.   o 15.2c)  Promote  existing  community  programs  that  encourage  the  production,   processing,  storage,  and  distribution  of  homegrown  food.   • 15.3.  Support  efforts  that  promote  energy  efficiency  retrofits  and  installation  of  solar   energy.   • 15.4.  Increase  access  to  transportation  options.   o 15.2a)  Support  land  use  planning  policies  that  result  in  walkable,  bikeable   neighborhoods.   o 15.2b)  Expand  the  network  of  multimodal  paths  and  public  transit.     Corvallis  Climate  Action  Plan  –  www.CorvallisCAP.org  41     Urban  Natural  Resources   “Because  natural  resources  are  interdependent,     many  of  the  adaptation  actions  can  achieve  multiple  goals.   What  is  the  Urban  Natural  Resources  Action  Area?   In  this  plan,  the  term  Urban  Natural  Resources  covers  the   soil,  air,  water,  plants,  and  animals  in  the  suburban  and   urbanized  areas  of  the  community.  These  resources   include  stormwater,  drinking  water,  and  all  the  trees,   shrubs,  grasses  and  other  plants  that  are  scattered  across   the  community  on  public  and  private  lands.   How  Are  Urban  Natural  Resources  Related  to   Climate  Change?   Maintenance  activities,  which  are  necessary  to  protect  and  manage  urban  natural  resources,   produce  some  greenhouse  gases;  for  example,  when  fossil  fuels  are  used  to  power  machinery  and   maintenance  vehicles.  However,  the  amount  of  GHG  produced  is  a  minute  percentage  of  the  total   produced  in  the  community.  In  fact,  most  inventories  do  not  include  natural  resources  as  a  source   of  greenhouse  gas  emissions,  and  many  describe  plants  and  soils  as  carbon  sinks,  a  place  where   greenhouse  gases,  such  as  carbon  dioxide,  are  taken  out  of  the  atmosphere  by  trees  and  other   plants  and  stored  in  their  leaves,  stems  and  roots.   How  Will  Climate  Change  Affect  Urban  Natural  Resources?   Probable  outcomes  of  climate  change  on  the  community’s  urban  natural  resources:   • Lower  summer  stream  flows.   • Increased  stream  temperatures.   • Warmer  terrestrial  temperatures.   • Increased  summer  drought  and  risk  of  wildfire.   • Increased  number  and  scale  of  problems  caused  by  invasive  species.   The  projected  changes  in  temperatures,  rainfall  patterns,  stream  flow  and  wildfire  incidence  will   likely  result  in  shifts  in  hydrology  and  in  habitat  types.  As  the  region  gets  hotter  and  drier  in   summer,  native  plants  and  animals  that  are  well  adapted  to  current  conditions  may  become  less   competitive  than  other  species.  Some  plants  and  animals  will  likely  disappear  altogether  and  others   will  relocate.   To  increase  the  adaptability  of  Corvallis’s  natural  resource  systems,  management  approaches  must   consider  the  variety  of  natural  resources—soil,  trees,  wildlife,  and  water—and  manage  them   together  across  the  urban  landscape.  Similarly,  natural  resource  planning  must  be  flexible,  holistic,   and  considerate  of  the  dynamic  biological  systems  and  potential  impacts  of  climate  change.     Corvallis  Climate  Action  Plan  –  www.CorvallisCAP.org  42   Objectives  and  Actions  for  Urban  Natural  Areas   Because  natural  resources  are  interdependent,  many  of  the  adaptation  actions  in  this  section— increased  shading,  decreased  flooding,  and  improved  wildlife  habitat—can  achieve  multiple  goals.   For  example,  in  areas  where  soils  are  protected  from  compaction,  trees  that  provide  shade  grow   healthier  and  are  more  resilient,  and  stormwater  can  better  infiltrate  the  soil,  which  reduces   flooding.  When  streamside  flood  zones  are  protected  from  development,  buildings  are  less  likely  to   flood,  and  stream  banks  can  support  shade  trees  that  cool  the  stream  and  provide  maximum   wildlife  habitat  value.   Public  lands  within  the  Urban  Growth  Boundary  (UGB)  of  Corvallis  contain  a  diverse  population  of   about  440,000  trees  that  include  over  300  varieties  and  have  an  estimated  tree  cover  of  31%.  Urban   trees  provide  a  variety  of  “ecosystem  services”  or  direct  environmental  benefits  for  people  that  can  be   quantified  in  both  physical  and  economic  terms.  The  annual  benefits  include:     • energy  savings  and  avoided  air  pollutant  emissions  due  to  shading  of  buildings     • carbon  sequestration  (storage)   • absorption  of  air  pollutants     • reduction  in  stormwater  runoff  and  required   infrastructure     • increases  in  private  real  estate  market  values     In  2009,  the  US  Environmental  Protection  Agency   estimated  the  annual  benefit  of  Corvallis’s  urban  forest   to  be  $4,000,000,  corresponding  to  an  average  of  $9  per   tree  and  $75  per  capita.  In  terms  of  fixed  asset  values,  the   total  carbon  dioxide  stored  was  valued  at  $1.45  million   and  the  total  replacement  value  of  the  trees  was   estimated  at  $450  million.  Enumerating  these  benefits   can  raise  citizen  awareness  of  the  value  of  public  tree   resources,  as  well  as  provide  a  basis  for  management  to  maximize  benefits  while  controlling  costs.33   OBJECTIVE  16:  To  cool  buildings,  pavement,  and  waterways,  by  2030  expand   Corvallis’s  urban  forest  canopy  to  cover  at  least  40  percent  of  publicly  owned  land  and   100  percent  of  the  total  length  of  streams  in  the  city  that  are  tributaries  to  the   Willamette  and  Marys  Rivers.   Plant  diverse  species,  including  those  native  to  the  Willamette  Valley,  to  increase  the  percentage  of   survivors  under  changing  conditions.  Locate  plantings  to  maximize  opportunities  for  co-­benefits  (e.g.,   cooling/shading  homes,  businesses,  streams  and  riparian  areas).   Mature  trees  can  help  reduce  flooding,  improve  air  quality,  and  cool  streams  and  the  urban  heat   island.  Tree  shade  reduces  energy  needed  to  heat  and  cool  buildings  and,  in  full  summer  sun,  may                                                                                                                             33  Assessment  of  Ecosystem  Services  Provided  by  Urban  Trees:  Public  Lands  Within  the  Urban  Growth  Boundary   of  Corvallis,  Oregon,  US  Environmental  Protection  Agency,  2009.     Corvallis  Climate  Action  Plan  –  www.CorvallisCAP.org  43   reduce  the  temperature  of  hard  surfaces  as  much  as  35˚  F.  The  greatest  benefits  will  come  from   shading  roadways,  buildings,  and  streams.  Trees  can  take  10  to  20  years  before  they  provide  a   significant  amount  of  shade,  but  tree  planting  is  an  inexpensive  investment  in  the  future  livability  of   our  community  that  can  be  done  by  almost  anyone.   This  Objective  does  not  include  a  percentage  for  shading  of  the  Willamette  and  Marys  Rivers  at  this   time  because,  as  part  of  the  Total  Maximum  Daily  Load  (TMDL)  project,  the  City  has  contracted  with   the  Marys  River  Watershed  Council  (MRWC)  to  evaluate  opportunities  for  tree  planting  within  the   Marys  River  watershed.  The  MRWC  will  conduct  a  shade-­potential  assessment  on  areas  that  have  the   highest  potential  for  shade  gain  in  the  watershed  and  that  will  meet  the  Oregon  Department  of   Environmental  Quality’s  requirements  in  order  for  the  City  to  receive  temperature  offset  credits.     Actions  to  be  completed  by  the  end  of  2016   • 16.1.  Require  use  of  native  species  in  all  public  projects.   • 16.2.  Seek  additional  financial  and  volunteer  resources  to  support  implementation  of  the   City’s  Urban  Forestry  Management  Plan.   o 16.2a)  Re-­‐examine  the  Urban  Forestry  plan  to  ensure  that  it  places  appropriate   emphasis  on  reducing  susceptibility  to  the  likely  increase  in  wildfires.   Actions  to  be  completed  by  the  end  of  2020   • 16.3.  Update  the  City’s  inventory  of  urban  tree  species  and  urban  forest  canopy  cover.     • 16.4.  Expand  public  and  private  programs  to  encourage  planting,  preserving  and   maintaining  of  trees  and  shrubs  and  to  control  invasive  species.     American  Forests’  web  site  offers  information  about  urban  tree  planting  programs,  including   educational  activities  for  youth.  Visit  the  site’s  information  about  CITYgreen  is  a  software  tool  that   helps  people  understand  the  value  of  trees  to  the  local  environment.  Planners  and  natural  resources   professionals  use  the  program  to  test  landscape  ordinances,  evaluate  site  plans,  and  model   development  scenarios  that  capture  the  benefits  of  trees.  http://www.americanforests.org/       OBJECTIVE  17:  By  2030,  recognize  trees,  shrubs,  vegetation  and  natural  landscapes  as   capital  assets  of  the  City’s  infrastructure.  Assign  the  physical  and  economic  value  of   services  provided  by  natural  ecosystems  to  guide  and  inform  land  use  planning,   development  decisions,  and  management  of  the  City’s  watershed.     Actions  to  be  completed  by  the  end  of  2016   • 17.1.  Ensure  that  the  City’s  watershed  forest  is  managed  to  increase  carbon  stores  over   time,  consistent  with  ecosystem  values.   Actions  to  be  completed  by  the  end  of  2020   • 17.2.  Support  State  of  Oregon  efforts  to  develop  standardized  tools  and  processes  for   accounting  and  approving  ecosystem  credits  and  payments.     • 17.3.  Assess  whether  and  how  ecosystem  market  approaches  can  enable  the  City  of   Corvallis  to  more  efficiently  and  effectively  protect  and  restore  ecosystems.     Corvallis  Climate  Action  Plan  –  www.CorvallisCAP.org  44   • 17.4.  Seek  appropriate  code  amendments  and  make  policy-­‐level  land  use  and  development   decisions  that  fully  consider  the  services  that  ecosystems  provide  at  an  ecologically   appropriate  scale.   • 17.5.  Create  incentives  to  encourage  residents  and  businesses  to  protect  and  enhance   ecologically  significant  lands.   In  July  2009,  Oregon  Governor  Ted  Kulongoski  signed  Senate  Bill  513,  which  directs  state  agencies  to   consider  how  ecosystem  services  markets  can  complement  the  existing  natural  resource  management   tools  used  by  the  state.  The  bill  defines  an  ecosystem  services  market  as  “a  system  in  which  providers  of   ecosystem  services  can  access  financing  to  protect,  restore  and  maintain  ecological  values,  including   the  full  spectrum  of  regulatory,  quasi-­regulatory  and  voluntary  markets.”  The  law  maintains  that   ecosystem  services  markets  can  save  money,  lead  to  more  efficient,  innovative  and  effective  restoration   actions  than  purely  regulatory  approaches,  and  facilitate  pooling  of  public  and  private  resources  for   conservation  and  restoration.   OBJECTIVE  18:  Increase  the  acreage  of  protected  natural  habitat  within  the  Corvallis   Urban  Growth  Boundary  (UGB)  by  25  percent  by  2030.   Acquiring,  restoring  and  protecting  significant  natural  areas   will  promote  functional  watersheds  and  forest  ecosystems,   sequester  carbon,  reduce  the  urban  heat  island  effect,   improve  air  and  water  quality  (e.g.,  stormwater   management,  flood  abatement,  stream  shading),  connect   habitats  and  wildlife  corridors,  and  contribute  to  regional   health,  biodiversity,  and  resiliency.   Actions  to  be  completed  by  the  end  of  2016   • 18.1.  Recruit  community  volunteers  to  increase  the  capacity  of  City  staff  and  local  land  use   organizations  to  seek  and  draft  grants  for  natural  resource  acquisition  and  restoration   projects.   • 18.2.  Identify  and  establish  a  range  of  diverse,  stable,  long-­‐term  funding  sources  for  the   acquisition,  restoration  and  preservation  of  prime  natural  areas.  For  example:   o 18.2a)  Traditional  funding  sources,  such  as  federal,  state,  and  private  foundation   grants,  corporate  sponsorships  and  donations,  may  be  available  in  limited  fashion.   o 18.2b)  Creative  funding  methods  such  as  land  swaps,  purchase  of  conservation   easements,  or  other  green  investment  funding  methods.   o 18.2c)  Local  grants  and  business  sponsorships  could  fund  unique  or  specific   projects.   Actions  to  be  completed  by  the  end  of  2020   • 18.3.  Update  and  maintain  natural  features  inventories  so  that  the  most  climate-­‐sensitive  or   significant  natural  resources  can  be  tracked:  e.g.,  stormwater  resources,  riparian  buffers,   opportunities  for  food  production,  solar  resources,  soil  classifications,  publicly-­‐owned  land.       Corvallis  Climate  Action  Plan  –  www.CorvallisCAP.org  45   OBJECTIVE  19:  By  2030,  reduce  water  flow  (quantity)  through  the  Corvallis  municipal   water  systems  (i.e.,  water  and  wastewater  treatment  plants,  stormwater  piping   system)  by  20  percent  as  compared  to  200834  annual  levels.   Actions  to  be  completed  by  the  end  of  2016   • 19.1.  Evaluate  residential  and  institutional  usage  patterns  of  the  three  municipal  water   systems  and  current  water  use  reduction  programs.  Recommend  new  programs  that   include  recognition  and  economic  incentives  for  reduced  usage.   Actions  to  be  completed  by  the  end  of  2020   • 19.2.  Install  water-­‐efficient  technologies  that  reduce  annual  flow  through  municipal   tapwater,  wastewater,  and  stormwater  pipes.   o 19.2a)  Promote  and  incentivize  water-­‐efficiency  technologies  to  property  owners   and,  during  permitting,  require  such  technologies  on  all  water-­‐related  systems.   o 19.2b)  Promote  state-­‐sanctioned  water-­‐efficiency  wastewater  technologies  that   reduce  municipal  wastewater  flow  for  all  existing  buildings  and,  for  all  relevant   building  permits,  require  technologies  that  result  in  reductions  (e.g.,  composting   toilets,  greywater  re-­‐use,  on-­‐site  biological  wastewater  treatment  systems).   • 19.3.  Develop  alternative  water  sources,  such  as  rainwater  and  greywater,  to  reduce  current   flow  levels  in  the  municipal  piping  systems.   OBJECTIVE  20:  Manage  stormwater  to  reduce  flooding,  recharge  groundwater,  and   improve  water  quality  (ongoing).   Climate  change  is  expected  to  increase  downpours,  and  cause  more  intense  winter  storm  events.  To   reduce  flooding,  stormwater  must  be  slowed  and  allowed  to  infiltrate  the  soil.  This  type  of  stormwater   management  includes  the  use  of  tools  such  as  bioswales,  pervious  pavement,  and  rain  gardens.   Actions  to  be  completed  by  the  end  of  2016   • 20.1.  Promote  Low  Impact  Development  (LID)  techniques  for  all  properties. o 20.1a)  When  issuing  building  permits,  require  use  of  LID  techniques  (e.g.,   minimizing  pavement/building  footprint,  rain  gardens,  infiltration  trenches,   permeable  pavers,  rainwater  harvesting  systems,  green  roofs,  vertical  gardens,   drought-­‐tolerant/layered  vegetation,  and  “permaculture”  design  techniques). o 20.1b)  Identify  incentives  to  encourage  property  owners  to  retrofit/redesign   existing  structures  and  landscapes. Actions  to  be  completed  by  the  end  of  2020   • 20.2.  Reduce  or  eliminate  piped  stormwater  from  draining  directly  into  streams.     o 20.2a)  Evaluate  the  number  and  impact  of  direct  storm  drain  outfalls  on  local   waterways.   o 20.2b)  Open  and  set  back  piped  stormwater  outfalls  that  drain  directly  into  streams.   o 20.2c)  Construct  velocity-­‐reducing  wetlands  and/or  buffers  between  selected  piped   stormwater  outfalls  and  stream  channels.                                                                                                                               34  Baseline  from  the  Community  Sustainability  Action  Plan  developed  in  2008  by  the  Corvallis  Sustainability   Coalition.     Corvallis  Climate  Action  Plan  –  www.CorvallisCAP.org  46   Appendix  A:  Climate  Change  in  the  Northwest   Ongoing  research  on  the  regional   implications  of  global  climate  change  largely   confirms  observations,  projections  and   analyses  made  over  the  last  decade  while   providing  more  information  about  how   climate  impacts  are  likely  to  vary  from  place   to  place  within  the  region.   Climate   Updated  research,  including  improved   climate  models,  has  refined  descriptions  of   climate  change.  During  1895-­‐2011,  the   Northwest  warmed  1.3°F  while  precipitation   fluctuated  with  no  consistent  trend.  Over  the   period  from  1970-­‐99  to  2041-­‐70,  new  models   project  NW  warming  of  2.0°F  to  8.5°F,  with   the  lower  end  possible  only  if  greenhouse  gas   emissions  are  significantly  reduced  (RCP4.5   scenario;  Fig  1).  Annual  average  precipitation   is  projected  to  change  by  –5%  to  +14%  for   2041-­‐70.  For  every  season,  some  models   project  decreases  and  some  project  increases;   most  models  project  lower  summer  rainfall   by  as  much  as  34%.       Water   Changes  in  precipitation  and  air  temperature   have  already  affected  hydrology  and  water   resources  in  the  Northwest.  In  most   watersheds  (except  those  with  little  snow),  as   snow  accumulation  diminishes,  spring  peak   flows  shift  earlier,  winter  flow  increases,  and   late-­‐summer  flow  decreases.  Dry  years  are   becoming  drier  everywhere  (Fig.  2).  Some   basins  are  likely  to  be  buffered  by   groundwater.     Irrigated  agriculture  is  the  largest   consumptive  water  user  in  the  Columbia   River  Basin  and  poses  the  greatest  extractive   demands  on  reservoir  systems.  Warmer,  drier   summers  and  longer  growing  seasons  may   increase  those  demands.  Competing  reservoir   water  demands  could  create  summer  water   shortages  and  reduce  the  proportion  of   irrigable  cropland  and/or  reduce  the   production  and  value  of  agricultural  goods.     Hydropower  production,  which  provides  two   thirds  of  the  region’s  electricity,  will  also  be   affected  by  snowmelt-­‐driven  shifts  in   streamflow.  By  the  2040s,  summer   production  is  projected  to  decrease  by  about   15%  and  winter  production  to  increase  by   about  4%  compared  with  the  period  from   1917-­‐2006.  Further  reductions  in   hydropower  may  also  result  from  climate   change  adaptation;  for  example,  flood  control   and  instream  flow  augmentation  for  fish.     Changes  in  flood  risk  depend  on  the  type  of   basin,  with  mixed  rain-­‐snow  basins  in   Washington  and  Oregon  already  seeing     Corvallis  Climate  Action  Plan  –  www.CorvallisCAP.org  47   increases  in  flood  risk.  Floodplain   development  has  increased  vulnerability  in   many  areas.  Continued  warming  of  rivers,   lakes,  and  wetlands  will  affect  the  health  of   aquatic  species  and  the  extent  of  suitable   habitat  for  many  species,  especially   salmonids  and  other  species  already  near   their  upper  thermal  tolerance.     Water-­‐dependent  recreational  activities  may   be  affected  by  dry  conditions,  reduced   snowpack,  lower  summer  flows,  impaired   water  quality,  and  reduced  reservoir  storage.   Difficulties  for  native  fish  including  Pacific   salmon  could  hamper  sport  fishing,  while  ski   resorts  near  the  freezing  elevation  will   encounter  less  snow  and  more  rain.   Coasts   Climate  driven  changes  will  likely  be   profound  for  Northwest  coasts  and  associated   ecosystems.  Sea  levels  are  projected  to  rise  4-­‐ 56”  by  2100  relative  to  2000,  with  some  local   variations.  Coastal  marshes  that  cannot  move   upslope  will  shrink,  affecting  shorebirds  and   other  species.  Increased  wave  heights  in   recent  decades  have  been  a  significant  factor   in  the  observed  increased  frequency  of   coastal  flooding.  About  2800  miles  of  roads  in   WA  and  OR  are  in  the  100-­‐year  floodplain;   some  highways  may  face  increased   inundation  with  2  feet  of  sea  level  rise.     In  Northwest  marine  waters,  elevated  levels   of  absorbed  CO2  combine  with  seasonal   coastal  upwelling  and  nutrient  runoff  to   produce  some  of  the  world’s  most  acidified   conditions,  hindering  some  marine   organisms’  ability  to  build  shells;  some  sea   grasses  may  benefit.  Warm  years  already   bring  non-­‐native  southern  species.  Higher  sea   surface  temperature  may  boost  harmful  algal   blooms.  Economic  effects,  both  positive  and   negative,  will  stem  from  changes  in   productivity  and  distribution  of  commercially   valuable  marine  species,  such  as  shellfish.     Forests  and  other  vegetation   About  half  the  land  area  in  the  Northwest  is   forested.  Climate  directly  affects  tree  growth   in  forests  through  temperature  and  moisture   controls,  and  indirectly  through  its  influence   on  disturbances—wildfires,  insects,  and   diseases.  The  spatial  distribution  of  suitable   climate  for  many  important  NW  tree  species   and  vegetation  types  may  change   considerably  by  the  end  of  the  21st  century,   and  some  vegetation  types,  such  as  subalpine   forests,  will  become  extremely  limited.   Affected  habitats  will  in  turn  affect  the   species  that  depend  on  them,  notably   wolverines  and  pika  at  higher  elevations,   while  some  species  like  the  northern  flicker   and  hairy  woodpecker  may  thrive  with  more   frequent  fires.     Large  areas   have  been   affected  by   disturbances   in  recent   years  (Fig.  3),   and  climate   change  is   probably  one   major  factor.  One  study  estimated  area   burned  will  rise  by  roughly  900  sq  mi  by  the   2040s,  or  a  factor  of  2.5  from  the  1980-­‐2006   average.  Climate  is  a  major  driver  of  insect   outbreaks  that  affect  millions  of  forest  acres.   Insect  life  stage  development  and  mortality   rates  are  influenced  by  temperature,  and   drought  can  cause  host  trees  to  be  more   vulnerable  to  insects.  Recent  mountain  pine   beetle  and  other  insect  outbreaks  were   facilitated  by  higher  temper-­‐atures  and   drought  stress,  and  the  frequency  of  such     Corvallis  Climate  Action  Plan  –  www.CorvallisCAP.org  48   outbreaks  is  projected  to  increase,   particularly  in  high-­‐elevation  forests.     Federal  and  state  policies  governing   management  and  harvest  may  impact  the   economy  as  much  as  any  effect  attributable  to   climate  change.  Increased  productivity  in  a   milder  climate  with  higher  CO2  may  be  offset   by  insect  and  disease  outbreaks  (e.g.  Swiss   needle  cast  affecting  the  commercially   important  Douglas-­‐fir),  and  wildfires.     Agriculture   The  Northwest’s  diverse  crops  depend  on   adequate  water  supplies  and  specific   temperature  ranges,  which  are  projected  to   change  during  the  21st  century.  Warmer   winters  and  longer  growing  seasons  could   increase  growth  for  some  crops  while   adversely  affecting  other  crops  dependent  on   chilling  periods.  Warmer,  drier  summers   could  result  in  yield  reductions  due  to  heat   and  drought  stress.  More  rainfall  in  the   winter  could  mean  wetter  soils  in  the  spring,   which  could  benefit  some  crops  while   hampering  planting  of  others.  These  climate   changes  could  also  result  in  changes  in   pressures  from  pests,  weeds,  diseases,  and   invasive  species.       Projected  yield  losses  due  to  warming  and   drought  are  expected  to  be  offset  to  varying   degrees  by  CO2  fertilization  for  many  crops.   In  a  study  with  one  climate  scenario,  winter   wheat  yields  were  projected  to  increase  13%-­‐ 25%  while  spring  wheat  yields  were   projected  to  change  by  -­‐7%  to  +2%  by  the   2040s  across  several  locations  in  Washington,   relative  to  1975-­‐2005.  Yields  of  irrigated   apples  are  projected  to  increase  by  9%.   Availability  of  water  for  irrigation  is  crucial   and  will  depend  on  hydrological,  structural,   and  policy  (seniority  of  water  rights)  factors.     Warming  may  reduce  productivity  and   nutritional  value  of  forage  on  grazing  lands.   Alfalfa  production  may  increase  as  long  as   water  is  available.  Higher  temperatures  can   affect  animal  health,  and  can  reduce  milk   production  and  beef  cattle  growth.   Human  Health   Effects  of  climate  change  on  human  health   will  depend  on  specific  attributes  of  climate   change  and  on  exposure  to  climate-­‐related   risks.  While  vulnerability  remains  relatively   low  in  the  Northwest,  adverse  impacts  of   climate  change  outweigh  any  positive  ones.   Concerns  include  increased  morbidity  and   mortality  from  heat-­‐related  illness,  air   pollution  and  allergenic  disease,  and   emergence  of  infectious  diseases.  A  changing   climate  is  also  expected  to  impact  mental   health.     Heat-­‐related  deaths  in  the  US  have  increased   over  the  past  few  decades.  In  Oregon,  analysis   of  hospitalization  and  climate  data  showed   that  each  10°F  increase  in  daily  maximum   temperature  was  associated  with  a  nearly  3-­‐ fold  increase  in  the  incidence  of  heat-­‐related   illness.  Wildfires,  especially  east  of  the   Cascades,  lead  to  days  or  weeks  of  poor  air   quality  and  respiratory  disease.  In  Puget   Sound,  rising  water  temperatures  promote   longer  harmful  algal  blooms  which  can  cause   paralytic  shellfish  and  domoic  acid  poisoning   in  humans  who  consume  infected  shellfish.       Corvallis  Climate  Action  Plan  –  www.CorvallisCAP.org  49   Tribal  communities   Tribes  have  always  been  intimately   connected  to  the  land  and  natural  resources.   In  ceding  their  lands  and  resources  to  the  US,   tribes  were  guaranteed  the  rights  to  continue   to  hunt,  fish,  and  gather  in  all  their  usual  and   accustomed  places  both  on  and  off   reservation  lands.  By  altering  the  distribution   and  timing  of  traditional  resources,  climate   change  could  affect  these  treaty-­‐protected   rights.  Treaty-­‐protected  fish  and  shellfish   populations  may  become  less  accessible  to   tribes.  Changes  in  salmon  abundance  and  tree   species  distribution,  and  risks  to  infra-­‐ structure,  can  affect  the  cultural,  medicinal,   economic,  and  community  health  of  tribes.     Tribes  are  tied  to  their  homelands  by  law  and   culture,  yet  the  impacts  of  climate  change  will   not  recognize  geographic  or  political   boundaries.  Tribal  vulnerability  and   adaptation  strategies  require  explicit   attention  because  of  the  unique  social,  legal,   and  regulatory  context  for  tribes.  Tribal   climate  change  efforts  in  the  region  are   strengthened  by  strong  government-­‐to-­‐ government  relationships,  informed  by   traditional  knowledge,  and  are  resulting  in   strategies  to  address  climate  impacts  on   tribal  resources  and  traditional  ways  of  life.     This is a summary of Climate Change in the Northwest: Implications for our Landscapes, Waters, and Communities. Dalton, M.M., P.W. Mote, and A.K. Snover, eds., Island Press, 270pp. and available from www.occri.net/reports. Citations for statements made herein, and complete author list, are available in the full report. Suggested citation for this document: Mote, P.W., J. Bethel, S.M. Capalbo, M.M. Dalton, S.E. Eigenbrode, P. Glick, L. Houston, J.S. Littell, K. Lynn, R.R. Raymondi, W.S. Reeder, and A.K. Snover, 2013: Climate Change in the Northwest, Brief Summary   .   Corvallis  Climate  Action  Plan  –  www.CorvallisCAP.org  50   Appendix  B:  Climate  Planning  and  the  Corvallis  Vision   The  seven  focus  areas  from  the  current  Corvallis  Vision  Statement  (in  bold  italics)  offer  many   emissions  reduction  opportunities.  Many  actions  are  already  underway,  and  others  can  be   undertaken  to  help  achieve  the  2020  Vision  and  to  lay  a  foundation  for  the  update  of  the  Vision  and   the  Corvallis  Comprehensive  Plan  in  2015.   Central  City:  “Corvallis  in  2020  boasts  a  Central  City  that  is  the  vibrant  commercial,  civic,  cultural  and   historic  heart  of  the  county.”   Corvallis’s  “Central  City”  or  “Downtown”  is  home  to  beautiful  historic  buildings,  modern  urban   structures,  aesthetically  pleasing  landscapes,  and  the  beautiful  Willamette  Riverwalk.  Using  low-­‐ impact  development  standards  and  green  building  techniques  when  developing  or  redeveloping   property,  constructing  and  renovating  buildings;  preserving  historic  resources;  decreasing  the  use   of  fossil  fuels  for  building  energy;  and  managing  buildings  at  the  end  of  life  (e.g.,  deconstruction  vs.   demolition)  will  help  to  meet  greenhouse  emissions  reduction  goals  by  reducing  energy  and  water   consumption.   Cultural  Enrichment  and  Recreation:  “Corvallis  in  2020  enjoys  a  cultural  life  which  is  rich  in  the  arts   and  recreational  opportunities,  and  celebrates  the  diverse  talents  and  cultures  of  our  community.”   The  natural  beauty,  quality  of  life,  and  supportive  community  of  Corvallis  and  Benton  County   encourage  and  nourish  the  arts  and  recreation.  Corvallis  provides  cultural  and  recreational   opportunities  and  outdoor  education  through  parks  and  natural  areas.  Some  of  the  city’s  most   popular  festivals  and  events—da  Vinci  Days,  Fall  Festival,  concerts  in  Central  Park  and  Starker  Arts   Park,  winery  tours,  sporting  events—take  place  outdoors.  By  attracting  tourists  and  enabling   residents  to  spend  their  recreation  and  entertainment  dollars  locally,  these  cultural  experiences  are   economic  drivers  in  the  community.  The  Parks  and  Recreation  Department  10-­‐year  Master  Plan   outlines  the  future  needs  of  facilities,  parks,  trails  and  recreation  programs  in  response  to   community  growth,  but  the  current  draft  plan  ignores  the  risks  posed  to  parks  and  natural  areas   from  climate  change.  Adapting  to  and  managing  the  risks  of  a  changing  climate  will  indirectly   ensure  that  Corvallis  retains  its  thriving  cultural  and  recreational  opportunities  with  all  their  social,   educational,  and  participative  value.   Economic  Vitality:  “Corvallis  in  2020  is  home  to  a  vibrant  economy  that  is  anchored  by  key  strategic   industries  and  complemented  by  a  wealth  of  diverse,  environmentally  friendly  businesses.”   Corvallis  recognizes  that  its  livability  is  a  primary  source  of  its  economic  vitality.  Corvallis  boasts  a   vibrant,  healthy  economy  that  draws  its  strength  from  four  directions:   1) Broad  base  of  employment  in  a  diverse  number  of  fields,  with  a  predominance  of  small,  locally   owned  businesses.   Climate  protection  policies  and  programs  that  manage  risks  and  invest  in  long-­‐term   greenhouse  gas  reduction  strategies  will  strengthen  the  local  economy  by  driving  demand   for  locally  provided  products  and  services.  Because  most  routine  daily  activities  generate   carbon  emissions,  nearly  every  activity  must  be  examined  to  identify  cleaner  and  more   sustainable  alternatives.  This  fundamental  reassessment  presents  major  economic     Corvallis  Climate  Action  Plan  –  www.CorvallisCAP.org  51   opportunities  that  innovative  businesses  and  individuals  in  Corvallis  have  already  begun  to   take  advantage  of.  The  community  is  home  to  developers,  builders,  architects,  engineers   and  product  manufacturers  in  the  green  building  industry.  Clean  energy  firms,  such  as   photovoltaic  installers,  biodiesel  producers,  and  energy  efficiency  consultants  are   proliferating.  The  City  also  is  a  leader  in  bicycling  products  and  local,  organic  foods.   2) Family  wage  jobs  linked  in  large  part  to  education,  technology,  health  care,  professional   services  and  research.   Many  of  the  technologies,  products  and  services  required  for  the  shift  to  a  low-­‐carbon   future  can  be  provided  by  Corvallis  companies,  thereby  maintaining  and  creating  local  jobs.   Dollars  currently  spent  on  fossil  fuels  will  no  longer  leave  our  economy  and  will  stay  here  to   pay  for  home  insulation,  lighting  retrofits,  solar  panels,  bicycles,  engineering,  design  and   construction.   3) Active  and  convenient  regional  transportation  system  which  makes  it  easy  to  walk,  cycle  or   ride  mass  transit.   Land  use  policies  that  limit  sprawl  reduce  driving  distances  and  make  it  easier  for  residents   to  get  around  by  bicycles  and  on  foot  instead  of  relying  on  cars.  This  reduces  both  fuel  use   and  greenhouse  gas  emissions.   4) Business  and  community  collaboration  to  maintain  and  improve  the  city’s  air  and  water   quality.”   Climate  action  is  an  effort  the  entire  community  needs  to  support  and  act  on,  not  just   something  that  the  local  government  adopts  and  implements.  Creating  an  innovative   framework  for  the  region’s  transition  to  a  more  prosperous,  sustainable  and  climate-­‐stable   future  not  only  will  improve  the  city’s  air  and  water  quality,  but  will  create  jobs,  improve   health,  and  maintain  the  high  quality  of  life  for  which  Corvallis  is  known.   Education/Human  Services:  “Corvallis  in  2020  offers  high  quality  educational  opportunities  and  a   comprehensive  network  of  health  and  human  services  available  to  all  residents  throughout  their   lifetime.”   Many  of  the  risks  of  climate  change  affect  public  health  (spread  of  disease,  exposure  to  extreme   temperatures,  etc.).  For  example,  diseases  are  emerging  that  have  not  been  prevalent  in  Oregon’s   temperate  climate.  Actions  such  as  improving  air  quality,  creating  more  walkable  neighborhoods,   and  encouraging  the  purchase  of  local,  organic  foods  will  provide  a  “health  dividend”  to  Corvallis   residents  that  is  potentially  vast  in  both  financial  terms  and  contribution  to  quality  of  life.   Governing  and  Civic  Involvement:  “Corvallis  in  2020  fosters  citizen  participation  in  all  aspects  of   community  decisions.  Neighborhood  organizations  are  vigorous  and  their  meetings  and  ward   meetings  provide  opportunities  for  formal  and  informal  discussions  of  community  issues.”   The  development  of  this  Climate  Action  Plan  has  already  brought  together  a  broad  coalition  of   community  organizations  and  individuals.  The  broad-­‐scale  coordination  and  planning  required  to   achieve  Corvallis’s  carbon  reduction  goal  will  demand  that  governments,  businesses,  civic   organizations  and  residents  collaborate  extensively  and  take  the  lead  in  their  own  activities.  As  the   community  works  toward  that  goal,  it  can  also  improve  social  equity  by  ensuring  that  populations   most  vulnerable  to  climate  change  are  included  in  the  implementation  of  Climate  Action  Plan  items   in  a  meaningful  way  and  are  given  priority  for  green  jobs,  healthy  local  food,  energy  efficient  homes   and  affordable,  efficient  transportation.     Corvallis  Climate  Action  Plan  –  www.CorvallisCAP.org  52   Protecting  Our  Environment:  “Corvallis  in  2020  has  successfully  integrated  its  economic  and   population  growth  with  the  preservation  of  its  scenic  natural  environment,  open  spaces,  clean  air  and   water,  wildlife  habitat  areas,  and  recreational  opportunities.”   The  Corvallis  Vision  Statement  anticipates  a  2020  population  of  57,000  to  63,000.  However,  more   recent  studies  suggest  that  the  Pacific  Northwest  may  well  experience  population  growth   significantly  above  current  expectations  as  the  impacts  of  climate  change  become  more  profound.   Scientists  expect  “climate  refugees”  to  have  a  major  effect  on  population  shifts  in  the  21st  century   as  large  numbers  of  people  move  from  hotter,  drier  regions  to  cooler,  wetter  ones.  Corvallis  and   other  cities  in  the  Pacific  Northwest  will  be  destinations  for  these  “refugees.”   Corvallis  currently  has  more  than  1,730  acres  of  City  parks  and  natural  areas,  but  environmental   degradation  has  rendered  these  natural  systems  less  resilient  than  they  once  were.  More  than  150   years  of  urban  development  has  diminished  the  capacity  of  our  wetlands,  floodplains  and  forests  to   absorb  and  accommodate  precipitation,  preparing  us  poorly  for  the  expected  increase  in  the   frequency  and  intensity  of  severe  weather  events  that  climate  change  will  bring  to  Oregon.  Air  and   water  quality,  habitat,  and  biodiversity  have  been  severely  strained  as  trees,  vegetation,  and   streams  have  been  replaced  by  pavement  and  culverts.  Weakened  natural  systems  absorb  less   carbon  directly  and  indirectly  result  in  still  more  carbon  emissions  through  the  urban  heat  island   effect,  which  raises  temperatures  in  the  city.   As  Corvallis  grows,  it  will  push  beyond  its  current  boundaries  and  absorb  other  natural  areas.   Whether  within  or  outside  City  boundaries,  natural  areas  may  suffer  from  overuse,  become  more   difficult  to  maintain  in  their  natural  state,  or  disappear  entirely.  Since  open  space  is  often  developed   for  shops,  offices,  industries,  and  homes,  it  is  important  for  the  City  to  protect  natural  areas  in  their   undeveloped  state  to  help  quality  of  life  keep  pace  with  population  growth.   Managing  community  greenhouse  gas  emissions  from  all  sectors  will  help  our  watersheds,  forests   and  ecosystems  to  remain  healthy  over  time.   • Sustaining  the  values  and  functions  of  our  tree  canopy,  rivers,  streams,  and  wetlands  can   reduce  emissions  and  sequester  carbon  while  strengthening  our  ability  to  adapt  to  a   changing  climate.   • A  healthy  urban  forest  can  reduce  energy  consumption  in  buildings  as  well  as  make  walking   and  biking  more  attractive  and  safe.     • Shifts  in  consumption  that  lower  personal  and  household  carbon  footprints  can  benefit   regional  and  global  ecosystems  by  reducing  biodiversity  loss  and  habitat  degradation.   Where  People  Live:  “Corvallis  in  2020  offers  balanced  and  diverse  neighborhoods,  incorporating   mixed-­‐use,  that  is  accessible  to  residents  without  driving,  which  forms  the  building  blocks  that  support   a  healthy  social,  economic,  and  civic  life.   Beyond  their  economic  benefits,  actions  that  protect  climate  can  also  fundamentally  improve   community  wellbeing.  Carefully  managing  the  connections  between  land  use  and  transportation   with  the  aim  of  reducing  GHG  emissions  supports  a  “healthy  social,  economic,  and  civic  life”  by:     Corvallis  Climate  Action  Plan  –  www.CorvallisCAP.org  53   • Preserving  local  water  and  forests  by  reducing  both  pollution  and  the  pressure  to  develop   green  spaces  that  provide  valuable  ecosystem  services.   • Protecting  and  restoring  the  city  and  county’s  green  infrastructure,  adding  to  trails,  parks   and  natural  areas  so  that  citizens  have  easy  access  to  nature  and  recreational  opportunities   that  are  distributed  equitably  throughout  the  community.   • Increasing  urban  forest  canopy,  which  improves  the  aesthetic  appeal  of  neighborhoods,   brings  nature  into  urban  areas,  and  improves  air  and  water  quality.     • Lowering  energy  and  transportation  bills  for  residents,  business  and  government.   • Enabling  residents  to  shop  locally  and  produce  their  own  food,  which  keeps  dollars  in  our   community.   • Reducing  health-­‐care  costs  of  a  healthy,  active,  productive  community.   These  are  just  a  few  examples  of  how  a  making  Corvallis  markedly  less  reliant  on  fossil  fuels  can   simultaneously  protect  the  climate  and  build  a  more  prosperous,  productive,  and  healthy   community.     Corvallis  Climate  Action  Plan  –  www.CorvallisCAP.org  54     Appendix  C:  Efforts  Already  Underway  in  Corvallis   The  City  of  Corvallis  has  taken  many  actions  to  reduce  greenhouse  emissions  and  staff  investigate   climate  action  opportunities  on  an  ongoing  basis.  Detailed  information  about  these  projects  can  be   found  in  the  sustainability  section  of  the  City  website  and  the  annual  sustainability  reports,   available  at  http://www.corvallisoregon.gov/index.aspx?page=211.     Buildings  and  Energy   Numerous  organizations  are  working  to  increase  energy  efficiency  and  reduce  GHG  emissions  in   Corvallis.  Corvallis  residents  and  businesses  can  also  take  advantage  of  efficiency  incentives  from   the  City  of  Corvallis  (low  flow  toilet  rebates),  the  federal  government  and  State  of  Oregon  (tax   credits),  local  utilities,  and  the  Energy  Trust  of  Oregon.  Other  efforts  underway  include:   • Corvallis  Environmental  Center  programs:  Communities  Take  Charge,  Classrooms  Take   Charge,  Clean  Energy  Works   • Direct  Installation  of  energy  saving  or  renewable  energy  producing  products  by  local   businesses   • Community  Services  Consortium  Home  Weatherization  Program   • Oregon  State  University  is  implementing  its  Climate  Action  Plan  to  reduce  GHG  emissions   from  university  buildings  and  operations   • Solar  Installations:  municipal  (Blue  Sky  grants),  household  (tax  credits,  ETO  incentives,   third  party  financial  plans),  community  (Seed  for  the  Sol  –  local  investment  opportunity)   • Green  Street  Loans  from  Umpqua  Bank   • Trade  Ally  contractors  working  with  the  Energy  Trust  of  Oregon   • Georgetown  University  Energy  Prize  competition  2015-­‐2016   Food  and  Agriculture   Many  organizations  and  community  groups  are  working  to  increase  local  food  production  and   consumption,  support  organic  gardening  and  farming,  and  develop  regionally  adapted  seeds.  For   example,  the  Corvallis  Sustainability  Coalition’s  Food  Action  Team  organizes  an  annual  Local  Eats   Week  and  several  edible  front-­‐yard  garden  tours.  The  Edible  Corvallis  Initiative  also  helps  local   schools  source  more  locally  grown  fruit  and  vegetables  for  students.  The  City  of  Corvallis  recently   lowered  the  regulatory  barriers  to  urban  food  production  by  reforming  some  of  its  zoning  code.  The   list  of  existing  efforts  is  too  long  to  comprehensively  describe,  but  here  is  a  partial  list:   • OSU  Extension  Service  provides  Master  Gardener  education,  organizes  educational   gardening  events,  provides  resources  for  land  management  of  small  acreages,  and  supports   local,  regional  and  farm-­‐direct  marketing  among  other  efforts.   • Benton  County  Health  Department  is  partnering  with  emergency  food  providers  and  other   community  groups  to  strategically  plan  for  a  South  Corvallis  Food  Center.   • Corvallis  Sustainability  Coalition  Food  Action  Team  organizes  an  annual  Local  Eats  Week   and  several  edible  front-­‐yard  garden  tours,  and  annually  publishes  the  Corvallis  Garden   Resource  Guide.     Corvallis  Climate  Action  Plan  –  www.CorvallisCAP.org  55   • Farm-­‐to-­‐School/Edible  Corvallis  Initiative  introduced  tasting  tables  to  Corvallis  elementary   schools  where  students  get  a  taste  of  locally  grown  fruits  and  vegetables.   • Farmers’  Markets   • Local  Food  Initiatives  at  Grocery  Stores   • Food  Pantries,  Meal  Sites,  and  SNAP  (Food  Stamps)   • Gleaners  Groups   • Granges   • Slow  Food  Corvallis   • Small  Farms  Program   • Southern  Willamette  Valley  Bean  &  Grain  Project  is  rebuilding  the  local  food  system  by   stimulating  the  cultivation  and  local  marketing  of  organically  grown  staple  crops  like  beans   and  grains  to  provide  a  foundation  for  year-­‐round  food  resources  in  the  Willamette  Valley.   • Women,  Infants  and  Children  (WIC)  Office  and  Clinic   Land  Use  and  Transportation   A  number  of  government  agencies,  business,  and  non-­‐profit  organizations  are  working  to  reduce   the  community’s  dependency  on  fossil  fuels  for  transportation.  For  years  Corvallis  has  developed   and  implemented  land  use  regulations,  such  as  the  state  required  Urban  Growth  Boundary,  which   facilitate  compact  growth  and  reduce  transportation  demand.  The  community  has  nationally   recognized  mass  transit,  and  bicycle  infrastructure  systems  that  decrease  dependence  on  single-­‐ occupant  vehicles.  City  staff  works  with  national  and  local  alternate  modes  advocates  to  develop   more  non-­‐vehicle  transportation  infrastructure:   • League  of  American  Bicyclists   • Oregon  Department  of  Transportation’s  Bicycle  and  Pedestrian  Program   • Cascades  West  RideShare   • Bicycle  Transportation  Alliance   • Corvallis  Bicycle  Collective   • Mid-­‐Valley  Bike  Club   With  broad  community  input,  the  Corvallis  Sustainability  Coalition’s  Land  Use  Action  Team   established  four  goals  to  support  a  sustainable,  compact  city:  walkable,  mixed-­‐use,  diverse   neighborhoods;  easy  access  to  diverse  natural  areas;  green  building  practices;  and  increased  access   to  locally  owned  and  produced  foods  and  goods  while  protecting  resource  lands,  quality  of  life,  and   the  environment.  The  Land  Use  team  worked  with  local  community  volunteers  to  complete  a   citywide  inventory  of  neighborhood  amenities,  walkability,  and  bikability  and  created  a  series  of   maps  to  help  identify  current  conditions  and  opportunities  to  improve  non-­‐auto  access  to  common   amenties.  The  team  is  currently  working  with  partner  organizations  to  conduct  a  review  of  local   land  use  codes  to  identify  changes  necessary  to  achieve  more  walkable,  mixed-­‐use  neighborhoods,   functioning  neighborhood  centers,  and  a  vibrant  downtown.   Consumption  and  Solid  Waste   The  City  of  Corvallis  participates  in  Benton  County’s  Solid  Waste  Advisory  Council  (SWAC),  a  State-­‐ mandated  board  comprised  of  local  officials  and  citizens  who  represent  various  areas  throughout     Corvallis  Climate  Action  Plan  –  www.CorvallisCAP.org  56   Benton  County.  The  SWAC  is  an  advisory  committee  for  the  Benton  County  Board  of  Commissioners   on  all  solid  waste  issues  for  Benton  County.   The  Corvallis  Sustainability  Coalition’s  Waste  Prevention  Action  Team  also  has  set  goals  and   accomplished  much  in  the  area  of  waste  reduction.  The  Team  works  in  partnership  with  Republic   Services,  Corvallis’s  provider  of  garbage  collection  and  recycling  services.  The  Waste  Prevention   Action  Team  has  helped  to  implement  the  following  programs:   • Curbside  collection  of  compost  in  yard  debris  bins   • Recycling  block  captain  program   • Reuse  directory     • Repair  Fairs   • Faith  Community  Education   Oregon  State  University  Campus  Recycling  manages  a  comprehensive  waste  management  system   that  focuses  on  reducing,  reusing  and  recycling  with  disposal  as  a  last  resort.  Campus  Recycling  is   also  actively  engaged  in  outreach  activities.  Campus  Recycling  works  with  Republic  Services  to  offer   Master  Recycler  classes  and  has  a  variety  of  other  programs  and  challenges,  such  as  Waste   Watchers  volunteers,  Repair  Fairs,  the  RecycleMania  Civil  War,  the  Residence  Hall  Move-­‐Out   Donation  Drive,  and  the  Coffee  Cup  Coup  Campaign.   Health  and  Social  Services   Numerous  organizations  in  Corvallis  and  Benton  County  are  working  to  address  health  and  social   service  needs.  Following  are  some  of  those  that  have  taken  the  lead  in  addressing  social  inequities   that  may  be  exacerbated  by  the  effects  of  climate  change:   • Benton  County  Health  Department     • Benton  Habitat  for  Humanity   • Cascades  West  Rideshare   • City  of  Corvallis  Transportation  Options  Program     • Community  Services  Consortium   • Corvallis  Environmental  Center  (Edible  Corvallis  Initiative  and  Energize  Corvallis)   • Corvallis  Sustainability  Coalition   • Healthy  Aging  Coalition   • Housing  First  (formerly  Corvallis  Homeless  Shelter  Coalition)   • Linn-­‐Benton  Food  Share   • Linn-­‐Benton  Health  Equity  Alliance   • Mid-­‐Valley  Health  Care  Advocates   • South  Corvallis  Food  Bank   • Willamette  Neighborhood  Housing   Urban  Natural  Resources   The  City  of  Corvallis  collaborates  with  other  public  agencies  to  conserve  and  responsibly  manage   the  natural  resources  within  its  purview,  including  the  Benton  Soil  and  Water  Conservation  District,   OSU-­‐Benton  County  Extension  Service,  US  Forest  Service,  US  Fish  and  Wildlife  Service,  Oregon     Corvallis  Climate  Action  Plan  –  www.CorvallisCAP.org  57   Department  of  Fish  and  Wildlife.  The  City  has  completed  a  number  of  resource  inventories  and   natural  resource  plans  to  preserve  the  quality  of  its  natural  resources:   • Natural  Features  Inventories  throughout  the  Corvallis  Urban  Growth  Boundary  (2003)   • Corvallis  Forest  Stewardship  Plan  (2006)   • Urban  Forestry  Management  Plan  (2009)   • Understory  Vegetation  Baseline  Monitoring  in  the  City  of  Corvallis  Rock  Creek  Watershed   (2010)   • Corvallis  Forest  Natural  Resources  Inventory  (2010)   • Parks  and  Recreation  Master  Plan  (2013)   Non-­‐profit  organizations  also  work  to  conserve  native  species  and  habitats  in  the  Corvallis  area   through  restoration,  research  and  education.  These  include:   • Greenbelt  Land  Trust   • Native  Plant  Society  of  Oregon   • Institute  for  Applied  Ecology   • Marys  River  Watershed  Council   • Marys  Peak  Group  Sierra  Club   • Audubon  Society  of  Corvallis   • Neighborhood  Naturalist   • Chintimini  Wildlife  Center     Corvallis  Climate  Action  Plan  –  www.CorvallisCAP.org  58     Appendix  D:  Corvallis  Community  Greenhouse  Gas  Inventory  Methodology   In  2014,  the  City  of  Corvallis  completed  the  2012  Community  Greenhouse  Gas  Inventory  Report,   which  provides  a  summary  of  key  findings  and  details  about  each  category  of  emissions  sources  and   activities.  The  following  description  of  the  inventory  methodology  is  on  page  6  of  the  report,  which  is   available  at  http://www.corvallisoregon.gov/modules/showdocument.aspx?documentid=8183.     In  order  to  quantify  GHG  emissions  in  a  way  that  is  useful  to  local  government  and  the  community,   it  is  important  to  use  a  standardized  approach.  This  inventory  uses  the  approach  and  methods   provided  by  the  U.S.  Community  Protocol  for  Accounting  and  Reporting  Greenhouse  Gas  Emissions   (Protocol),  released  by  ICLEI  –  Local  Governments  for  Sustainability  in  October,  2012.  The  Protocol   establishes  reporting  requirements  for  all  community  GHG  emissions  inventories,  provides  detailed   accounting  guidance  for  quantifying  GHG  emissions  associated  with  a  range  of  emission  sources   and  community  activities,  and  provides  a  number  of  optional  reporting  frameworks.  This  Protocol   is  the  national  standard  for  U.S.  local  governments  to  account  for  and  report  on  greenhouse  gas   emissions  associated  with  their  communities.  Use  of  the  Protocol  provides  an  accepted   methodology  to  estimate  and  report  on  GHG  emissions  associated  with  the  community.  This  allows   for  more  informed  decisions  about  how  and  where  to  pursue  GHG  emissions  reduction   opportunities.   This  Protocol  requires  inclusion  of  five  Basic  Emissions  Generating  Activities  in  their  GHG   emissions  inventories:   1. Use  of  electricity  by  the  community     2. Use  of  fuel  in  residential  and  commercial  stationary  combustion  equipment     3. On-­‐road  passenger  and  freight  vehicle  travel     4. Use  of  energy  in  potable  water  treatment  and  distribution  and  wastewater  collection  and   treatment       5. Generation  of  solid  waste  by  the  community     In  addition  to  these  five  Basic  Emissions  Generating  Activities,  this  inventory  also  estimates  the   emissions  associated  with  the  manufacturing  and  production  of  food,  goods,  and  services  consumed   by  Corvallis  households  and  local  government.  Consumption  generates  emissions  all  over  the  world   from  activities  such  as  mining,  manufacturing,  and  transportation.     Corvallis  Climate  Action  Plan  –  www.CorvallisCAP.org  59     Appendix  E:  State  of  Oregon  Climate  and  Energy  Policy   Oregon’s  Statewide  Energy  and  Climate  Change  Policy  framework  provides  solid  support  for  many   of  the  actions  outlined  in  this  climate  Action  plan.  Oregon’s  policies  cover  the  efficient  use  of  energy   for  heating,  cooling,  and  operation  of  appliances  in  buildings,  the  generation  of  electricity  from   renewable,  non-­‐fossil  energy  sources,  improvement  in  the  carbon-­‐intensity  of  transportation  fuels,   and  non-­‐binding  coordination  of  action  towards  these  goals.  The  agencies  and  organizations  that   drive  and  implement  these  policies  are  mentioned  below.     Greenhouse  Gas  Reduction  Goals   Oregon’s  Energy  Policy  and  Climate  Change  mitigation  effort  began  in  the  1970’s  in  response  to  the   oil  import  crisis.  The  resulting  policies,  designed  to  buffer  Oregon  against  the  volatile  costs  of   imported  oil  and  rising  energy  costs,  have  also  kept  Oregon’s  carbon  emissions  and  per  capita   energy  use  low  by  national  standards.  These  policies  are  the  foundation  of  Oregon’s  carbon   reduction  successes  and  are  augmented  by  greenhouse  gas  reduction  goals,  now  codified  in  law  as   ORS  468A.205  and  hosted  by  the  Oregon  Global  Warming  Commission  (see  the  Commission’s   website  at  http://www.keeporegoncool.org/).  Oregon’s  goals  are  to  reduce  greenhouse  gases  by   ~10%  below  1990  levels  by  2020  and  at  least  75%  below  1990  levels  by  2050.  The  Commission   hosts  an  integrated  plan  to  reduce  Oregon’s  carbon  emissions  and  is  required  to  provide  regular   “bully  pulpit”  updates  to  the  legislature  on  the  plan  and  progress  towards  Oregon’s  goals.35  In  short,   the  Commission  has  determined  that  “Cars  and  Coal”  must  be  the  focus  of  carbon  reductions  over   the  next  decade.     Energy  for  Heating  and  Cooling  of  Buildings.  Oregon’s  energy  policies  currently  comprise  a  set  of   laws  and  rules  that  combine  to  ensure  that:  a)  carbon  emissions  do  not  grow  with  electricity  load   growth,  b)  carbon  emissions  from  heating  with  natural  gas  are  minimized,  and  c)  nation-­‐leading   mandatory  energy  efficiency  standards  are  in  place  for  most  appliances  and  some  building   construction.   Funding  models  are  robust  for  policies  impacting  Investor  Owned  Utility  (IOU)  and  Consumer   Owned  electric  utility  (COU)  carbon  emissions.  Because  energy  efficiency  is  defined  as  the  least  cost   resource  for  both  investor36  and  consumer  owned  utilities37  this  drives  investment  in  energy   efficiency.  In  IOU-­‐electric  service  territories,  SB  838  (2007)  and  a  2.25%  bill  charge  under  SB  1149   (1999)  combine  to  ensure  funding  sufficient  to  replace  the  85-­‐100%  of  electricity  load  growth  with                                                                                                                             35  Oregon  Global  Warming  Commission  Report  to  the  Legislature,  2013:   http://www.keeporegoncool.org/sites/default/files/ogwc-­‐standard-­‐documents/OGWC_2013_Rpt_Leg.pdf.   36  Investments  in  energy  efficiency  are  very  cost  effective  for  ratepayers;  the  costs  are  largely  borne  by  the   homeowner,  with  only  incentives  being  paid  by  all  the  ratepayers  (to  avoid  paying  the  full  cost  of  a  new   power  plant.)   37  The  Pacific  Northwest  Electric  Power  Planning  and  Conservation  Act  of  1980  calls  out  a  requirement  that   the  first  investments  in  the  Bonneville  Power  Administration-­‐led  utility  system  be  energy  efficiency  and   wildlife  conservation.  BPA  also  provides  significant  transmission  integration  for  the  Pacific  Northwest.     Corvallis  Climate  Action  Plan  –  www.CorvallisCAP.org  60   investments  in  cost  effective  energy  efficiency38.  Decoupling  agreements  with  the  IOU-­‐natural  gas   companies  promise  funding  of  100%  of  cost  effective  natural  gas  energy  efficiency  (but  not  of  load   growth).  These  mainstream  electricity  and  natural  gas  programs  are  augmented  by  low-­‐income   programs  and  by  Oregon  Department  of  Energy  (ODOE)  electric  efficiency  programs  for  K-­‐12  Public   Schools  (.5%  of  bill)  and  Industrial  customers.  Low  carbon  electricity  is  also  enabled  by  SB  1149   funded  programs  (.5%  of  bill)  that  incent  the  installation  of  renewable  energy  on  residences  and   businesses,  by  net  metering  programs  (1999)  that  enable  customers  to  “trade”  renewable  energy   for  fossil  fuel  energy  at  retail  rates,  and  utility  scale  installations  mandated  by  the  Renewable   Portfolio  Standard  (RPS)  –also  from  SB  838  (2007).  The  RPS  requires  electric  utilities  to  supply   25%  of  their  total  load  from  new  renewable  energy  sources  (above  and  beyond  old  hydro).  The  net   effect  of  energy  efficiency  investments  and  the  RPS  is  that  all  electricity  load  growth  since  the  year   2000  should  be  met  by  non-­‐carbon  resources.  Tax  credits  for  both  energy  efficiency  and  renewable   energy  investments  are  also  available  on  Oregon  tax  returns.     Capable  organizations  administer  these  laws,  including  the  ODOE,  the  Oregon  Public  Utility   Commission,  the  Energy  Trust  of  Oregon,  the  Northwest  Energy  Efficiency  Alliance,  the  Northwest   Power  Planning  Council  and  the  Bonneville  Power  Administration.  Capable  advocacy  organizations   engage  to  ensure  these  laws/policy  intentions  are  consistently  administered.  These  bodies  include   the  Citizens’  Utility  Board  of  Oregon  (enshrined  since  1984  in  the  Oregon  Constitution),  the   Northwest  Energy  Coalition  (including  the  electric  and  natural  gas  utility  partners),  the  Community   Action  Partnership  of  Oregon,  and  many  others.  Efforts  to  dismantle  this  framework  are  few,  but   are  led  by  the  libertarian  Cascade  Institute  and  American  Legislative  Exchange  Council  (ALEC).   Standards  for  Appliances  and  Buildings.  Oregon’s  standards  for  energy  efficiency  of  appliances   have  consistently  risen  along  with  those  of  California  (to  date).  Currently,  voluntary  building  codes   are  offered  that  match  the  nation  leading  codes  of  other  states.  Voluntary  Energy  Performance   Scores  that  communicate  the  efficiency  performance  of  residential  buildings  are  under  development   and  are  also  intended  for  use  by  appraisers  in  home/building  financing.  Building  energy  code   creation  has  recently  moved  from  the  Oregon  Department  of  Energy  to  the  Department  of   Consumer  and  Business  Services.   Energy  for  Transportation.  The  Oregon  Clean  Fuels  Program,  approved  in  HB  2186  by  the  2009   Legislature,  aims  to  reduce  the  carbon  intensity  of  transportation  fuel  used  in  the  state.  The  Clean   Fuels  Program  also  seeks  to  create  economic  development  opportunities  in  Oregon,  increase  the   state’s  energy  security  and  reduce  air  pollution  for  healthy  communities.  DEQ  is  implementing  the   program  in  phases.  In  December  2012,  the  Environmental  Quality  Commission  adopted  the  first   phase  of  rules  allowing  DEQ  to  collect  information  about  fuels  currently  being  imported  into  the                                                                                                                             38  SB  1149  directs  2.25%  of  utility  bills  to  energy  efficiency  projects  and  SB  838  requires  utilities  to  project   the  maximum  achievable  energy  efficiency  that  can  be  “built  out”  and  to  fully  fund  incentives  for  those   projects.  The  effectiveness  of  the  decoupling  mechanism  to  invest  in  energy  efficiency  is  reduced  as  the  cost   of  natural  gas  is  reduced.  Because  of  this,  natural  gas  energy  efficiency  programs  are  under  stress  at  this  time.               Corvallis  Climate  Action  Plan  –  www.CorvallisCAP.org  61   state  to  create  a  baseline  for  measuring  future  reductions.  In  February  2014,  Governor  Kitzhaber   directed  DEQ  to  draft  rules  for  the  next  phase  of  the  program,  which  will  require  a  10-­‐percent   reduction  in  the  carbon  content  of  Oregon’s  transportation  fuels  over  a  10-­‐year  period.  This   reduction  represents  about  280  million  metric  tons  of  greenhouse  gases  reductions  through  2025.     Eliminating  Coal.  SB  488-­‐2014  (a  clarification  of  an  earlier  bill)  has  affirmed  that  Oregon  investor   owned  utilities  may  not  import  more  electricity  derived  from  coal.  This  means  that  no  investor   owned  utility  supplying  Oregon  customers  may  install  coal  fired  generation  to  meet  Oregon  load   and  may  not  enter  into  new  contracts  to  buy  coal-­‐fired  electricity  to  serve  Oregon  customers.  In   addition,  Oregon’s  least  cost-­‐least  risk  requirements  for  utility  investments  and  rigorous  analysis  of   the  costs  of  implementing  technology  to  scrub  mercury  and  fines  pollution  from  coal  stacks  has  led   to  promises  by  Portland  General  Electric  to  shut  down  the  last  coal  fired  power  plant  operating  in   Oregon  by  2020.  The  example  set  by  this  Oregon  action  is  being  replicated  in  the  investment   profiles  of  generation  in  other  states.   Rewarding  Utilities  for  Reducing  Carbon.  SB  844-­‐2014  allows  natural  gas  utilities  to  propose   programs  to  the  Oregon  Public  Utility  Commission  that  reduce  carbon  emission  and,   simultaneously,  provide  benefits  to  ratepayers.  Until  programs  are  proposed  and  approved  by  the   Commission,  the  assumption  is  that  these  benefits  would  comprised  reduced  costs  for  ratepayers.   Legislators  did  not  include  electric  utilities  as  eligible  for  SB  844,  citing  opposition  by  Industrial   Customers  of  NW  Utilities  as  their  rationale  for  this  decision.   Putting  a  Price  on  Carbon.  Also  known  as  a  clean  air  tax,  a  carbon  tax,  a  revenue  neutral  carbon   tax,  or  a  carbon  cap  and  trade  program,  these  options  for  putting  a  price  on  carbon  to  “allow  the   market  to  drive  greenhouse  gases  out  of  our  national  economy”  are  under  consideration  in  Oregon.   SB  306  commissioned  a  study  of  various  carbon  pricing  options  and  these  are  expected  to  be   reviewed  and  considered  during  the  2015  legislative  session.  Portland  General  Electric’s  counsel   asserts  that  a  carbon  tax  polls  poorly  in  Oregon  at  this  time,  which  suggests  that  legislation  to   impose  such  a  tax  would  be  difficult  to  pass  or  that  such  a  tax  would  be  referred  to  the  voters  upon   passage….and  would  fail.     Corvallis  Climate  Action  Plan  –  www.CorvallisCAP.org  62     Appendix  F:  Advisory  Panel   Dorothy  Fisher  Atwood  has  over  25  years  of  environmental  consulting  experience.  For  the  last  10   years  she  has  focused  on  management  systems  implementation  for  private  and  public   organizations,  including  for  the  City  of  Corvallis.  Dorothy  is  the  Management  Systems  program   manager  for  Zero  Waste  Alliance  (ZWA),  a  Portland-­‐based  non-­‐profit  organization.  She  develops   implementation  tools  and  procedures,  training,  and  processes  for  sustainability  and  environmental   management  system  (including  ISO  14001)  integration  into  core  business  systems.  Dorothy  is  an   instructor  for  the  University  of  Oregon’s  Sustainability  Leadership  Workshop  Series  and  has  co-­‐ authored  two  booklets  on  management  systems  for  the  Axis  Performance  Sustainability  Series.   Bill  Bradbury  is  an  Ex  Officio  Member  of  the  Oregon  Global  Warming  Commission  and  one  of   Oregon's  two  representatives  on  the  Northwest  Power  and  Conservation  Council.  He  has  long  been   involved  in  Oregon  politics  and  environmental  issues  affecting  the  state.  He  has  served  as  Oregon's   Secretary  of  State  and  as  a  member  of  the  Oregon  Senate,  where  he  was  Majority  Leader  and  Senate   President.  He  directed  the  non-­‐profit  organization,  For  the  Sake  of  the  Salmon,  during  which  he   worked  with  Northwest  Native  American  tribes;  federal,  state  and  local  governments;  and  timber,   agriculture  and  fishing  interests.  Bill  served  as  chair  of  the  Oregon  Sustainability  Board  from  2005   to  2009  and  was  one  of  the  early  participants  in  Vice  President  Al  Gore’s  Climate  Change  training   sessions.  He  travels  around  the  state  to  present  locally  adapted  information  on  global  warming.   Kyle  Diesner  is  a  policy  analyst  at  the  City  of  Portland  Bureau  of  Planning  and  Sustainability  (BPS).   He  works  primarily  on  climate  change  planning,  energy  efficiency  and  renewable  energy  programs,   but  he  also  provides  analytical  support  to  other  BPS  programs,  including  recycling,  composting  and   the  Bureau’s  long  range  planning  efforts.  Kyle  works  with  the  Clean  Energy  team  on  efficiency  and   renewable  energy  programs  and  is  also  in  charge  of  completing  the  annual  inventory  of  carbon   emissions  for  the  City  and  Multnomah  County.  He  is  the  Co-­‐chair  of  the  BPS  Diversity  Committee   and  dedicates  a  portion  of  his  time  to  the  Bureau’s  social  equity  initiatives.  From  2006  to  2009  Kyle   worked  on  the  Sustainable  City  Government  program,  where  he  coordinated  the  Portland  Clean   Diesel  Partnership.  Kyle  has  a  BS  in  environmental  science  from  Humboldt  State  University.   Kelly  Hoell  is  an  associate  at  Good  Company,  a  Eugene  consulting  firm  that  helps  clients  measure,   manage  and  market  their  sustainability  performance.  Kelly  works  primarily  with  government  and   business  clients  to  provide  technical  and  market  research  and  business  supply  chain  development.   She  has  led  the  sustainability  and  greenhouse  gas  assessments  and  reporting  for  municipalities,   multi-­‐national  food  processors  and  regional  food  retail  companies.  Kelly  manages  BASEline:     Carbon  Footprints  (formerly  Operation  Climate  Collaborative),  a  streamlined  program  designed  to   guide  municipal  governments  through  the  process  of  measuring  and  reporting  their  greenhouse  gas   emissions.  She  is  an  Adjunct  Instructor  in  Planning,  Public  Policy,  and  Management  for  the  Oregon   Leadership  in  Sustainability  (OLIS)  program  at  the  University  of  Oregon.  In  2012  Kelly  developed   and  taught  a  workshop  on  sustainable  purchasing  for  City  of  Corvallis  employees.       Corvallis  Climate  Action  Plan  –  www.CorvallisCAP.org  63   L.  Hunter  Lovins  is  President  of  Natural  Capitalism  Solutions  (NCS,)  a  Colorado  non-­‐profit  that   helps  companies,  communities  and  countries  implement  more  sustainable  practices  profitably.   Trained  as  a  sociologist  and  lawyer  (JD),  Hunter  has  helped  create  several  MBA  schools  and  is   currently  professor  of  sustainable  business  at  Bard  MBA  and  Denver  University.  She  lectures  to   audiences  around  the  globe  and  has  written  15  books  and  hundreds  of  articles.  The  Way  Out:   Kickstarting  Capitalism  to  Save  Our  Economic  Ass  (2012)  succeeds  her  international  best-­‐selling   book,  Natural  Capitalism,  now  used  in  hundreds  of  colleges.  Her  latest,  Creating  a  Lean  and  Green   Business  System  won  the  2014  Shingo  Prize  for  Excellence  in  Manufacturing  Research.  She  has  won   dozens  of  awards,  including  induction  into  the  Hall  of  Fame  of  the  International  Society  of   Sustainability  Professionals  in  2013.  Time  Magazine  recognized  her  as  a  Millennium  Hero  for  the   Planet,  and  Newsweek  called  her  a  Green  Business  Icon.   Chris  Maser  is  a  scientist,  consultant,  writer  and  speaker  who  covers  a  wide  range  of  sustainability   issues,  including  sustainable  forestry,  sustainable  community  development,  environmental   economics,  citizen  involvement  in  land  use  decisions,  resolving  environmental  conflicts,  protecting   endangered  species  and  wildlife  habitat,  environmental  education,  and  the  consequences  of   violence.    He  has  authored  or  coauthored  more  than  30  books  and  250  articles  and  given  more  than   100  talks  throughout  the  United  States,  Canada,  Europe,  and  Asia.  Chris  lives  in  Corvallis.   Matt  McRae  is  the  Climate  and  Energy  Analyst  for  the  City  of  Eugene.  In  2009-­‐10,  Matt  managed   the  effort  to  create  Eugene’s  first  community  Climate  and  Energy  Action  Plan.  His  work  includes   implementing  Eugene’s  Internal  Zero  Waste  plan,  managing  an  Internal  Operations  Greenhouse  Gas   Inventory,  managing  Eugene’s  20-­‐minute  neighborhoods  assessment,  and  overseeing  progress  on   the  Natural  Hazards  Mitigation  Plan.  Matt  has  a  B.S.  in  Environmental  Studies  from  Utah  State   University  and  worked  for  the  National  Park  Service  for  nine  years  before  joining  the  City  of  Eugene   in  2002.  He  is  an  Adjunct  Instructor  in  Planning,  Public  Policy,  and  Management  for  the  Oregon   Leadership  in  Sustainability  (OLIS)  program  at  the  University  of  Oregon.     Babe  O’Sullivan  is  the  Sustainability  Liaison  for  the  City  of  Eugene,  supporting  sustainability   initiatives  for  the  City  organization  and  the  broader  community.  Her  work  covers  a  wide  range  of   topics  including  climate  action  planning,  land  use  and  transportation,  energy  efficiency,  Triple   Bottom  Line  decision-­‐making,  and  solid  waste  and  recycling.  She  also  provides  staff  support  for  the   Eugene  Sustainability  Commission.  She  co-­‐leads  the  Research  Workgroup  of  the  West  Coast  Climate   and  Materials  Management  Forum  and  is  the  recipient  of  a  "National  Notable  Achievement  Award"   from  EPA  Administrator  Lisa  Jackson  for  her  work  to  reduce  the  climate  impacts  of  materials  and   waste.  Previously,  Babe  coordinated  the  Solid  Waste  and  Recycling  program  for  the  City  of   Portland’s  Bureau  of  Planning  and  Sustainability.  She  holds  an  MBA  from  the  University  of   California,  Berkeley  and  an  undergraduate  degree  in  environmental  policy  from  the  University  of   California,  Davis.  Babe  is  an  Adjunct  Instructor  in  Planning,  Public  Policy,  and  Management  for  the   Oregon  Leadership  in  Sustainability  (OLIS)  program  at  the  University  of  Oregon.   Ann  Scheerer  is  Consultant-­‐Academic  Advisor  for  Oregon  State  University’s  Sustainability  Double   Degree  Program  and  an  Adjunct  Instructor  for  OLIS.  With  over  20  years  of  work  experience  in   business  (Siemens  Energy  and  Automation),  local  government  public  works  (City  of  Kirkland,   Washington)  and  non-­‐profit  organizations  (Sustainable  Seattle,  Sustainable  Communities  ALL  Over     Corvallis  Climate  Action  Plan  –  www.CorvallisCAP.org  64   Puget  Sound  -­‐  SCALLOPS),  Ann  possesses  a  broad  perspective  of  multiple  sectors.  She  is  currently   finishing  her  interdisciplinary  dissertation  on  the  effectiveness  of  behavioral  interventions  in  local   climate  action  planning  for  her  PhD  in  Urban  Planning  at  the  University  of  Colorado.  She  has  a  MPA   from  the  University  of  Washington,  a  Master  of  Strategic  Leadership  towards  Sustainability  from   the  Blekinge  Institute  in  Sweden,  a  BS  in  Mechanical  Engineering  from  the  University  of  Michigan,   and  a  BA  from  Kalamazoo  College.   Megan  Shuler  is  the  Sustainability  at  Work  program  manager  with  the  City  of  Portland,  Bureau  of   Planning  and  Sustainability.  Sustainability  at  Work  is  a  free  service  for  businesses  looking  to  green   their  workplace.  Megan  has  over  nine  years  of  experience  working  on  sustainability-­‐related   programs.  In  the  past  three  years  alone,  those  programs  have  served  over  3,000  Portland   businesses  in  the  areas  of  transportation,  water,  energy  and  waste.   Jane  M.  Silberstein  is  Associate  Dean  at  Bainbridge  Graduate  Institute,  which  pioneered  the   Sustainable  MBA.  She  began  her  career  as  a  transportation  planner  in  Santa  Barbara,  CA,  where  she   joined  a  team  developing  what  became  an  award-­‐winning  citywide  bikeway  system.  She   subsequently  became  an  urban  planner  in  Santa  Barbara  and  then  Santa  Cruz  CA,  both  of  which   were  pioneers  in  sustainable  community  development.  Following  the  Loma  Prieta  earthquake  in   Santa  Cruz  in  1989,  Jane  was  assigned  to  a  major  redevelopment  effort.  At  that  time,  she  came   across  Paul  Hawken’s  Ecology  of  Commerce,  which  served  as  a  major  inspiration  and  portal  to  the   field  of  sustainable  community  development.  She  subsequently  moved  into  the  arena  of  higher   education  (Northland  College,  University  of  Wisconsin)  as  faculty  and  administrator  with  a  focus  on   sustainable  community  development.  Jane  has  written  numerous  books  and  articles  on  land  use   planning  and  sustainable  community  development.     Kevin  Wilhelm  is  the  CEO  of  Sustainable  Business  Consulting,  a  Seattle-­‐based  consulting  firm   focused  on  practical  solutions  that  deliver  profit  improvement  and  brand  value  through  the  use  of   sustainable  business  practices.  Kevin  has  more  than  15  years  of  experience  working  with   businesses  ranging  from  Fortune  500  multinationals  to  renewable  energy  start-­‐ups.  His  firm’s   clients  include  Nordstrom,  REI,  The  North  Face,  Coinstar/Redbox,  Drugstore.com  and  Brooks   Sports.  In  addition  to  his  consulting  work,  Kevin  is  the  author  of  Return  on  Sustainability:  How   Business  Can  Increase  Profitability  &  Address  Climate  Change  in  an  Uncertain  Economy  and  a   professor  for  the  Bainbridge  Graduate  Institute’s  Sustainable  Business  MBA  Program.       Corvallis  Climate  Action  Plan  –  www.CorvallisCAP.org  65     Appendix  G:  Glossary   Adaptation:  An  adjustment  in  natural  or  human  systems  to  a  new  or  changing  environment.   Adaptation  to  climate  change  refers  to  adjustments  in  response  to  actual  or  expected  climatic   stimuli  or  their  effects,  which  lessens  harm  or  exploits  beneficial  opportunities.  Various  types  of   adaptation  include  anticipatory  and  reactive,  private  and  public,  and  autonomous  and  planned.   Architecture  2030:  A  non-­‐profit,  non-­‐partisan  and  independent  organization  established  in   response  to  the  global-­‐warming  crisis  by  architect  Edward  Mazria  in  2002.  The  mission  is  to  rapidly   transform  the  US  and  global  Building  Sector  from  the  major  contributor  of  greenhouse  gas   emissions  to  a  central  part  of  the  solution  to  the  global-­‐warming  crisis.   Bicycle  Friendly  Community.  A  community  recognized  by  the  League  of  American  Bicyclists  as   one  that  is  welcoming  to  cyclists  because  of  its  trails,  bike  lanes,  share  the  road  campaigns,   organized  rides,  Bike  to  Work  Day  events,  etc.  The  BFC  designation  recognizes  communities  that   encourage  people  to  bike  for  transportation  and  recreation  through  the  five  Es:  engineering,   education,  encouragement,  enforcement,  and  evaluation.     Biofuel:  A  fuel  produced  from  dry  organic  matter  or  from  combustible  oils  produced  by  plants.   Examples  include  alcohol  from  fermented  sugar,  black  liquor  from  the  paper  manufacturing   process,  wood,  and  soybean  oil.   Biomass:  When  referring  to  fuel,  biomass  is  a  plant-­‐derived  fuel  from  clean  and  untreated  wood   such  as  brush,  stumps,  lumber  ends  and  trimmings,  wood  pallets,  bark,  wood  chips  or  pellets,   shavings,  sawdust  and  slash,  agricultural  crops,  biogas,  or  liquid  biofuels,  but  excludes  materials   derived  in  whole  or  part  from  construction  and  demolition  debris.   Bioswale:  A  vegetated  depression  that  can  temporarily  store  stormwater,  reduce  flooding,  cleaning   water,  and  encourage  infiltration.   Carbon  dioxide  (CO2):  The  major  heat-­‐trapping  gas  whose  atmospheric  concentration  is  being   increased  by  human  activities.  It  also  serves  as  the  yardstick  for  all  other  greenhouse  gases.  The   major  source  of  CO2  emissions  is  fuel  combustion,  but  they  also  result  from  clearing  forests  and   burning  biomass.  Atmospheric  concentrations  of  CO2  have  been  increasing  at  a  rate  of  about  0.5   percent  a  year,  and  are  now  more  than  30  percent  above  pre-­‐industrial  levels.   Carbon  footprinting.  The  act  of  evaluating  the  greenhouse  gas  emissions  associated  with  the  life   cycle  of  a  product.  Products  can  be  consumer  goods  as  well  as  products  or  materials  sold   business‐to‐business.     Carbon  intensity:  The  amount  of  carbon  emitted  for  each  unit  of  energy  consumed.   Carbon  pricing.  A  method  for  reducing  global-­‐warming  emissions  by  charging  emitters  of  carbon   dioxide  for  the  right  to  emit  one  tonne  of  CO2  into  the  atmosphere.  Carbon  pricing  usually  takes  the     Corvallis  Climate  Action  Plan  –  www.CorvallisCAP.org  66   form  of  a  carbon  tax  or  a  requirement  to  purchase  permits  (also  called  “allowances”)  to  emit.   Because  such  permits  are  privately  tradable  and  emissions  are  limited  to  the  total  number  of   available  permits  (the  cap),  this  system  is  known  as  cap-­‐and-­‐trade.   Carbon  sequestration:  The  uptake  and  storage  of  carbon.  Trees  and  other  plants,  for  example,   absorb  CO2,  and  then  release  the  oxygen  while  storing  the  carbon.   Carbon  sinks:  The  processes  or  ecological  systems  that  take  in  and  store  more  carbon  than  they   release.  This  process  is  called  carbon  sequestration.  Forests  and  oceans  are  large  carbon  sinks.   Citizen’s  Climate  Lobby  (CCL).  An  international  grassroots  environmental  group  that  trains  and   supports  volunteers  to  build  relationships  with  members  of  Congress  in  order  to  influence  climate   policy.  Operating  since  2007,  the  goal  of  CCL  is  to  build  bipartisan  support  to  put  a  price  on  carbon,   specifically  a  revenue  neutral  carbon  fee  and  dividend  at  the  national  level.   Climate:  The  average  state  of  the  atmosphere  including  typical  weather  patterns  for  a  particular   region  and  time  period  (usually  30  years).  Climate  is  the  average,  long-­‐term  weather  pattern  for  a   particular  region,  while  weather  describes  the  short-­‐term  state  of  the  atmosphere.  Climate   measures  average  precipitation,  temperature,  wind,  and  seasonal  phenomena  such  as  length  of  the   growing  season.   Climate  change:  A  significant  change  from  one  climatic  condition  to  another,  often  used  in   reference  to  climate  changes  caused  by  the  increase  in  heat-­‐trapping  gases  since  the  end  of  the  19th   century.   Climate  model:  A  quantitative  way  of  representing  the  interactions  of  the  atmosphere,  oceans,  land   surface,  and  ice.   Climate  refugees:  People  displaced  from  their  homes  or  lands  by  significant  changes  in  climate   such  as  increased  drought,  sea  level  rise,  or  increased  storm  intensity.   Community  Scale  Renewable  Energy:  A  renewable  energy  system,  photovoltaic  for  example,   installed  at  a  large  scale:  for  example,  over  the  roof  of  a  large  commercial  building.  Often  this  will   include  multiple  investors  paying  for  a  single,  large  installation  that  will  benefit  many  homes  or   businesses.   Ecosystem:  Any  natural  unit  of  living  and  non-­‐living  parts  that  interact  to  produce  a  stable  system   through  cyclic  exchange  of  materials.   Embodied  (greenhouse  gas)  Emissions:  Greenhouse  gas  emissions  associated  with  the   expenditure  of  energy  involved  in  the  creation  of  a  product.  This  includes  the  energy  to  extract  raw   materials  (lumber,  iron,  etc.),  process,  package,  transport,  install,  and  recycle  or  dispose  of   products.   Emissions:  The  release  of  a  substance  (usually  a  gas  when  referring  to  the  subject  of  climate   change)  into  the  atmosphere.     Corvallis  Climate  Action  Plan  –  www.CorvallisCAP.org  67   Energy  efficiency:  Ratio  of  energy  output  of  a  conversion  process  or  of  a  system  to  its  energy  input.   Energy  Performance  Score:  A  home  energy  rating  system  similar  to  the  miles-­‐per-­‐gallon  (MPG)   rating  for  the  auto  industry  that  enables  homebuyers  to  directly  compare  energy  consumption   between  homes  while  offering  a  natural  market  incentive  to  upgrade  their  homes  as  much  as   possible.   Energy  Trust  of  Oregon  (ETO):  A  nonprofit  organization  that  helps  certain  utility  customers  in  the   Pacific  Northwest  improve  energy  efficiency  and  tap  renewable  sources.  ETO  administers  public   purpose  funds  that  are  collected  from  customers  for  new  cost-­‐effective  conservation,  new  market   transformation,  and  the  above  market  costs  of  new  renewable  energy  resources.     EPA:  The  United  States  Environmental  Protection  Agency.   Fossil  fuel:  A  general  term  for  combustible  geologic  deposits  of  carbon  in  reduced  (organic)  form.   Fossil  fuels  are  of  biological  origin  and  include  coal,  oil,  natural  gas,  oil  shales  and  tar  sands.  A  major   concern  is  that  they  emit  CO2  when  burned,  significantly  enhancing  the  greenhouse  effect.   GHG:  Abbreviation  for  greenhouse  gas.  See  definition  for  Greenhouse  Gas  below.   Global  Warming:  An  average  increase  in  the  temperature  of  the  Earth’s  atmosphere,  which  can   contribute  to  changes  in  global  climate  patterns.  Global  warming  can  occur  from  a  variety  of  causes,   both  natural  and  human  induced.  In  common  usage,  “global  warming”  often  refers  to  the  warming   that  can  occur  as  a  result  of  increased  emissions  of  greenhouse  gases  from  human  activities.  See   climate  change,  greenhouse  effect.   Greenhouse  Effect:  The  thermal  effect  that  results  from  heat-­‐trapping  gases  allowing  incoming   solar  radiation  to  pass  through  the  Earth’s  atmosphere,  but  preventing  most  of  the  outgoing   infrared  radiation  from  the  surface  and  lower  atmosphere  from  escaping  into  outer  space.   Greenhouse  Gas  (GHG):  A  term  used  for  gases  that  trap  heat  in  the  atmosphere.  The  principal   greenhouse  gases  that  enter  the  atmosphere  as  a  result  of  human  activity  are  carbon  dioxide,   methane,  and  nitrous  oxide.  Others  include,  but  are  not  limited  to,  water  vapor,   chlorofluorocarbons  (CFCs),  hydrochlorofluorocarbons  (HCFCs),  ozone  (O3),  hydrofluorocarbons   (HFCs),  perfluorocarbons  (PFCs),  and  sulfur  hexafluoride  (SF6).   Greywater:  Under  Oregon  law,  greywater  means  wastewater  from  showers,  baths,  bathroom  and   kitchen  sinks,  and  laundry.  If  handled  properly,  greywater  can  safely  be  reused  for  flushing  toilets   and  urinals  as  well  as  for  irrigation.  Reuse  of  greywater  reduces  the  demand  on  other  sources  of   water,  such  as  potable  water,  surface  water,  and  groundwater.   Intergovernmental  Panel  on  Climate  Change  (IPCC).  Established  in  1988,  the  IPCC  assesses   information  in  the  scientific  and  technical  literature  related  to  all  significant  components  of  the   issue  of  climate  change.  Hundreds  of  the  world’s  key  experts  on  climate  change  and  the   environmental,  social  and  economic  sciences  from  some  60  nations  have  helped  the  IPCC  prepare   periodic  assessments  of  the  scientific  underpinnings  of  global  climate  change  and  its  consequences.     Corvallis  Climate  Action  Plan  –  www.CorvallisCAP.org  68   The  IPCC  is  looked  to  as  the  official  advisory  body  to  the  world’s  governments  on  the  state  of  the   science  of  the  climate  change  issue.   Impervious  surface:  Surfaces  such  as  concrete,  asphalt,  and  building  roofs  that  don’t  allow  water   to  penetrate.  These  surfaces  collect  and  concentrate  rainwater  increasing  the  potential  for  water   pollution  and  flooding.   Invasive  species:  An  introduced  species  that  invades  natural  habitats.     Kyoto  Protocol.  An  international  agreement  linked  to  the  United  Nations  Framework  Convention   on  Climate  Change.  Parties  commit  to  setting  internationally  binding  emission  reduction  targets.     Land  use:  Human-­‐determined  arrangements,  activities,  and  inputs  undertaken  in  a  certain  land   type,  the  social  and  economic  purposes  for  which  land  is  managed  (e.g.,  grazing,  timber  extraction,   and  conservation).   Lifecycle  (of  goods):  The  complete  life  (of  goods)—the  mining  or  extraction  of  raw  materials,  the   manufacturing  processes,  transportation,  packaging,  retail,  the  use  of  goods,  and  finally  their   disposal.   LEED:  Leadership  in  Energy  and  Environmental  Design,  a  program  of  the  United  States  Green   Building  Council  and  a  commonly  used  green  building  standard.   Low  Impact  Development  (LID).  A  design  approach  that  protects  soil  and  increases  the  resiliency   of  stormwater  systems  by  maintaining  and  enhancing  natural  water  movement,  both  within  a   developing  site  and  throughout  urban  areas.  Some  LID  strategies  include  preventing  unnecessary   soil  compaction,  retaining  rainwater  on-­‐site,  and  designing  stormwater  systems  to  put  water  back   into  the  soil  instead  of  into  the  storm  drain.   Methane  (CH4):  A  hydrocarbon  that  is  a  heat-­‐trapping  gas  carrying  a  global  warming  potential   recently  estimated  at  24.5.  Methane  is  produced  through  anaerobic  (without  oxygen)   decomposition  of  waste  in  landfills,  animal  digestion,  decomposition  of  animal  wastes,  production   and  distribution  of  natural  gas  and  oil,  coal  production  and  incomplete  combustion  of  fossil  fuels.   Metric  ton  (Mt):  Common  measurement  for  the  quantity  of  greenhouse  gas  emissions.  A  metric  ton   is  equal  to  2205  lbs  or  1.1  short  tons.   Mitigation:  An  intervention  to  reduce  the  sources  or  enhance  the  sinks  of  greenhouse  gases.   Megawatt  (MW):  A  measure  of  electricity  use.  One  MW  is  equal  to  1000  Kilowatts.   Natural  gas:  A  fossil  fuel  that  occurs  as  underground  deposits  of  gases  consisting  of  50  to  90   percent  methane  (CH4)  and  small  amounts  of  heavier  gaseous  hydrocarbon  compounds  like   propane  (C3H8)  and  butane  (C4H10).   Net  metering:  A  special  metering  and  billing  agreement  between  utilities  and  their  customers,   which  facilitates  the  connection  of  small,  renewable  energy-­‐generating  systems  to  the  power  grid.   When  a  net  metering  customer’s  renewable  energy  system  is  producing  more  power  than  is  being     Corvallis  Climate  Action  Plan  –  www.CorvallisCAP.org  69   consumed,  the  electric  meter  runs  backward  generating  credits.  When  a  customer  uses  more  power   than  is  being  produced,  the  meter  runs  forward.  Customers  are  charged  only  for  the  “net”  power   that  they  consume  over  a  designated  period  or,  if  their  renewable  energy-­‐generating  systems  make   more  electricity  than  is  consumed,  they  may  be  credited  or  paid  for  the  excess  electricity   contributed  to  the  grid  over  that  same  period.   ODOT:  Oregon  Department  of  Transportation   Oregon  DEQ:  Oregon  Department  of  Environmental  Quality   Oregon  DOE:  Oregon  Department  of  Energy   Pervious  pavement:  Pavement  (asphalt  or  concrete)  that  is  designed  so  that  water  can  move   through  the  pavement  and  infiltrate  into  the  ground.   Photovoltaic  (PV):  A  solar  power  technology  that  converts  sunlight  into  electricity.   Price  signal.  Information  conveyed  to  consumers  and  producers,  via  the  price  charged  for  a   product  or  service,  thus  providing  a  signal  to  increase  supply  and/or  decrease  demand  for  the   priced  item.  See  definition  for  Carbon  Pricing.   Rain  Gardens:  Stormwater  management  structures  designed  to  slow  runoff,  clean  water,  and   increase  soil  infiltration.   Renewable  Energy:  Energy  sources  that  are,  within  a  short  time  frame  relative  to  the  Earth’s   natural  cycles  and  sustainable.  They  include  non-­‐carbon  technologies  such  as  solar  energy,   hydropower,  and  carbon-­‐neutral  technologies  such  as  biomass.   Resilience:  Amount  of  change  a  system  can  undergo  without  altering  state.   Seeds  for  the  Sol:  A  Corvallis-­‐based  non-­‐profit  organization  devoted  to  removing  the  financial   barrier  to  residential  solar.  In  partnership  with  community  members,  Seeds  for  the  Sol  uses  a   funding  model  that  mimics  the  natural  cycles  of  planting,  harvesting,  and  renewal  to  help  more   people  put  solar  on  their  roofs.   Smart  Grid:  A  modernized  electrical  grid  that  uses  analogue  or  digital  information  and   communications  technology  to  gather  and  act  on  information,  such  as  information  about  the   behaviors  of  suppliers  and  consumers,  in  an  automated  fashion  to  improve  the  efficiency,  reliability,   economics,  and  sustainability  of  the  production  and  distribution  of  electricity.   Source  (greenhouse  gas):  Any  process  or  activity  that  releases  into  the  atmosphere  a  greenhouse   gas,  an  aerosol  or  a  precursor  to  a  greenhouse  gas.   Stormwater:  Rain,  snow,  and  other  precipitation  that  falls  onto  buildings,  streets,  and  the  ground.   Stormwater  is  managed  within  the  stormwater  system  of  downspouts,  gutters,  underground  pipes,   and  streams.     Corvallis  Climate  Action  Plan  –  www.CorvallisCAP.org  70   350.org:  An  international  environmental  organization  founded  by  author  Bill  McKibben  with  the   goal  of  building  a  global  grassroots  movement  to  raise  awareness  about  climate  change,  to  confront   climate  change  denial,  and  to  cut  emissions  of  carbon  dioxide.  350.org  takes  its  name  from  the   research  of  Goddard  Institute  for  Space  Studies  scientist  James  E.  Hansen,  who  posited  in  a  2007   paper  that  350  parts-­‐per-­‐million  (ppm)  of  CO2  in  the  atmosphere  is  a  safe  upper  limit  to  avoid  a   climate  tipping  point.     Total  Maximum  Daily  Load  (TMDL).  A  calculation  of  the  maximum  amount  of  a  pollutant  that  a   body  of  water  can  receive  and  still  safely  meet  the  water  quality  standards  of  the  U.S.  Clean  Water   Act.   Upcycling.  The  process  of  converting  waste  materials  or  useless  products  into  new  materials  or   products  of  better  quality  or  for  better  environmental  value.   Urban  heat  island:  A  condition  that  occurs  when  the  urban  area  is  warmed  by  dark  pavement,  roof   shingles,  and  buildings.   Vehicle-­miles  traveled  (VMT):  A  measurement  to  determine  the  amount  of  automobile  traffic— can  also  be  used  to  estimate  greenhouse  gas  emissions.   Vulnerability:  The  degree  to  which  a  system  is  susceptible  to,  or  unable  to  cope  with,  adverse   effects  of  climate  variability  and  extremes.   Wastewater:  Used  water  that  contains  dissolved  or  suspended  waste  materials.   Weather:  Atmospheric  condition  at  any  given  time  or  place  measured  in  terms  of  wind,   temperature,  humidity,  atmospheric  pressure,  cloudiness,  and  precipitation.  In  most  places,   weather  can  change  from  hour  to  hour,  day  to  day,  and  season  to  season.  Climate  is  usually  defined   as  the  “average  weather.”     Corvallis  Climate  Action  Plan  –  www.CorvallisCAP.org  71     Appendix  H:  Appreciations   The  Corvallis  Climate  Action  Plan  Task  Force  expresses  our  deep  appreciation  to  all  the  individuals   who  contributed  to  this  plan  through  their  ideas  and  insights,  research,  technical  expertise,  writing,   editorial  assistance,  community  outreach,  encouragement,  food,  and  other  vital  elements.  We  are   still  receiving  feedback,  so  are  acknowledging  contributions  here  in  lieu  of  the  Topic  Specialists   Appendix  that  we  held  space  for  in  the  previous  draft.   Inspiration   Linda  Geiser   John  Gentile   Debra  Higbee-­‐Sudyka   Leonard  Higgins   Charlie  Miller     Technical  Experts   Energy:  Brandon  Trelstad  (Corvallis  Sustainability  Coalition  Energy  Action  Team);  Carly  Lettero   (Corvallis  Environmental  Center)   Land  Use:  Susan  Morre  (Corvallis  Sustainability  Coalition  Land  Use  Action  Team)   Solid  Waste:  Jeannette  Hardison  (Corvallis  Sustainability  Coalition  Waste  Action  Team),  Andrea   Norris  (OSU  Recycling),  Julie  Jackson  (Republic  Services)   Food  and  Agriculture:  Owen  Dell  (Owen  Dell  and  Associates,  LLC);  Jason  Bradford  (Vitality  Farms,   Farmland  LC)     Health  and  Social  Services:  Tatiana  Dierwechter,  Charlie  Fautin,  Sara  Hartstein,  Mac  Gillespie   (Benton  County  Health  Department)   Urban  Natural  Areas:  David  Eckert  (Corvallis  Sustainability  Coalition  Water  Action  Team)   Climate  Science:  Phil  Mote  (Oregon  Climate  Change  Research  Institute)   Greenhouse  Gas  Emissions  Reduction  Targets:  Robin  Fadebo  (Merit  Systems  Services)   State  of  Oregon  Policy:  Theresa  Gibney     Advisory  Panel   Dorothy  Fisher  Atwood    Matt  McRae   Bill  Bradbury        Babe  O’Sullivan   Kyle  Diesner        Ann  Scheerer   Kelly  Hoell        Megan  Shuler   L.  Hunter  Lovins      Jane  M.  Silberstein   Chris  Maser          Kevin  Wilhelm       City  of  Corvallis   Urban  Services  Committee:  Councilors  Richard  Hervey,  Dan  Brown,  Roen  Hogg   Public  Works:  Mary  Steckel,  Scott  Dybvad