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Home My WebLink About03-23-17 BCP Meeting Minutes BOZEMAN CLIMATE PARTNERS MEETING MINUTES MARCH 23, 2017 A. CALL MEETING TO ORDER The regular meeting of the Bozeman Climate Partners Working Group was called to order at 2:00 PM on March 23, 2017 in the Madison Room of City Hall. PRESENT Natalie Meyer, Jay Sinnott, Joan Montagne (arrived at 3:00), Mahima Giri, Susan Bilo, Jed Wolfstrom, Kathy Powell, Heather Higinbotham (departed at 2:20) B. CHANGES TO THE AGENDA S. Bilo requested that we add climate adaptation scoping to the end of the agenda. C. PUBLIC COMMENT None. D. MINUTES The minutes from 2/23/17 were submitted, but members had not reviewed for approval. E. FYI/DISCUSSION 1. SPRING MEETING SCHEDULE N. Meyer re-iterated that the upcoming BCP meetings schedule for April 27 and May 25 will be cancelled to accommodate her leave. H. Higinbotham plans to send out email updates on these two dates. The next BCP meeting is scheduled for June 22. 2. STORIES OF SUSTAINABILITY OUTCOMES The March 1 Stories of Sustainability-PK Style event turned out approximately 120 people and filled the Library Community Room. H. Higinbotham reported a very positive response from the surveys and 60 people indicated that they were interested in learning more about the Bozeman Energy Smackdown when they signed in. At the time of the meeting, she had not yet heard a report from WattzOn regarding the number of people who actually registered after the event following the email prompt from her. Higinbotham has edited the video footage for each presentation to post online to the City YouTube account. Meyer and Higinbotham thanked M. Giri and K. Powell for their help with signing people in, sharing information about city sustainability programs, and assisting with the video microphone during presentation transition. BCP members suggested other advertising techniques such as the City Facebook page or a City Sustainability Facebook page and a KGLT PSA. Overall, the turnout was excellent and filled the venue. The group felt that PK-format helped draw people in. 3. LEGISLATIVE UPDATES C. Taylor was absent from the meeting as he was in Helena testifying in favor of the gas tax bill and SB 330 PACE enabling legislation in the Senate Energy Subcommittee meeting. The PACE bill has a republican sponsor and wide variety of proponents. Northern Plains Resource Council is helping to organize the proponents. Meyer submitted a letter of support for PACE and Assistant City Manager Rosenberry (and former Finance Director) was testifying in person. During the same hearing, a Net Metering compromise bill, HB 219, will be introduced by Zach Brown. This version would grandfather in rates for existing net-metering customers and will conduct a cost-benefit study by April 1, 2018. The original bill proposed a cost-benefit study when net metering systems reach 1% of the public utility’s total electric sales. S. Bilo and N. Meyer expressed that the volume of net-metering related bills has become overwhelming to track. HB 219 will at least end the debate in the Legislature and transition the discussion to the Public Service Commission. S. Bilo discussed the need for micro-grid solutions and decentralization of our energy production. J. Sinnott mentioned that Mike Phillips was introducing a bill to re-tool and re-train Colstrip employees. It was unclear if this bill had advanced. 4. EMISSIONS INVENTORY UPDATE N. Meyer received utility data from NorthWestern Energy for the inventory years of 2012 and 2016. She originally submitted the data request in August of 2016. It took extra time because she asked for the data based on Bozeman’s geographic city limits. Previously, data was only provided based on NorthWestern’s city code, which is a large arbitrary rectangle that extends far beyond our jurisdiction. Reporting data for 2012 and 2106 will allow us to determine the emissions reduction resulting from the hydroelectric purchase that was added to NorthWestern’s energy portfolio. Meyer is reviewing the numbers and comparing it to past inventories and MSU’s inventory. She explained to the group that the forthcoming emissions inventory will be considerably different than the original inventory that served as the basis for the Climate Action Plan and emissions reduction goal and per capita emissions projections. 5. CITY STRATEGIC PLAN COMMENTS The trajectory for the Strategic Plan may be in transition now with the departure of the City Manager. There will likely be more guidance on the next steps in the coming weeks. The group had received N. Meyer’s comments regarding the Sustainable Environment chapter and she did not receive any comments back. 6. ADAPTATION PLANNING (ADDED) S. Bilo read the minutes from the last meeting regarding the budget line item that included $15,000 for Climate Change Risk and Vulnerability Assessment. The Assessment would involve hiring a consultant to compile the best available climate data, convene key stakeholder groups, and help identify relevant climate related risks and evaluate the needed performance response. S. Bilo would like to know more about the logic for the assessment and how it relates to the Climate Action Plan. She wanted to know if we were planning this work in conjunction with a Climate Action Plan update. Meyer said that the City needs to take steps to acknowledge that the impacts of climate change are already here and we need to consider how we might respond. Initiating the conversation with critical stakeholders such as the utility, MSU, the hospital, and county would help increase awareness of the potential issues that we are likely to encounter. The logic of doing the assessment first might present an opportunity to identify strategies that serve to advance both adaptation/resiliency and climate mitigation---such as energy micro grids. S. Bilo is concerned that we generally know what we must do to mitigate climate change and she is worried that adaptation planning will distract from the need to reduce emissions. Meyer pointed out that the same debate occurred with the original development of the Municipal Climate Action Plan. Do you spend resources adapting or mitigating? J. Sinnott pointed out that Bozeman’s climate mitigation efforts are important, but largely symbolic on the global scale. Work in adaptation may be necessary. Meyer referenced the MT Climate Assessment findings that show Montana has already warmed 2.7 degrees F since 1950, which is two times the national average. She referenced Fort Collins, which experienced record wildfire one year, followed by record flooding the next year causing dramatic erosion, damage to infrastructure, and over-extended emergency responders. We have a responsibility to have the conversation around adaptation, while attempting to integrate the findings into the next Climate Action Plan update. J. Sinnott pointed out the Missoula also has an adaption plan. S. Bilo asked where we stand with the City of Bozeman Sustainable Building Standard and stretch code. Meyer said that we are currently in a difficult position to push forward with a new Community Development Director, no City Manager, and over-extended Legal department. Meyer would like to know what Susan recommends as a standard at this point. Bilo, Meyer, and Higinbotham attended the International Green Construction Code Training to see if it might be a good fit. From Meyer’s perspective, the energy code requirements are identical to current code, so it is not necessarily worth the effort. S. Bilo stated that if we are going to do anything, the group should pursue a net zero energy standard for City of Bozeman buildings or else it is not worth her time. She believes the tools and resources exist to make it possible, referencing NREL case studies, technical assistance, and the National Affordable Housing Network. N. Meyer pointed out that such a goal would be unrealistic on the next two major city projects, the Law & Justice Center and an Aquatics Facility. She does not believe Net Zero Energy will be a viable proposal in either case. The residential work by the National Affordable Housing Network is not likely to help build a case for large-scale, complex commercial buildings. Bilo said that she gave Carson Taylor a case study for a Net Zero Energy Aquatics facility. Bilo asked if she and Jay should continue to meet while Meyer is out on leave. Meyer concurred it would be a good idea. UPCOMING EVENTS 1. Climate Science Outreach Forum, MSU Extension Climate Science Team & Sustainability NOW (SNOW), April 5, 1-5pm, MSU Sub Ballroom B 2. Odyssey Day, Electric Vehicle Car Show and Workshop, April 14, 3-4:30 workshop with YTCC & Idaho National Lab, 4:30-6:00pm, Bozeman Public Library. 3. Bozeman Cleanup Day, April 22, 8-10am, Library Community Room (tabling volunteers needed) 4. Fix-it Clinic, May 6, 10-3p, Gallatin Solid Waste Management District, Gallatin County Fairgrounds (volunteers needed) G. NEXT MEETING June 22, 2017 H. ADJOURNMENT Meeting was adjourned at 3:40 PM by Natalie Meyer. The next regular meeting will be at 2:00 PM on June 22, 2017. Minutes submitted by: Natalie Meyer