HomeMy WebLinkAbout11-02-20 Public Comment - I. Killeen - Bozeman Climate Plan draft commentsFrom:Ita Killeen
To:Agenda
Cc:Natalie Meyer
Subject:Bozeman Climate Plan draft comments
Date:Monday, November 2, 2020 12:29:09 AM
Attachments:BznClimatePlan comments-Ita Killeen 2020_10_31.docx
Hi Natalie and City Representatives,
Thanks so much for all of your hard work on the Bozeman Climate Plan. It is incredibly
comprehensive and has many good strategies. I learned a lot by reading through the different
sections! I have some specific comments on the Renewable Energy Supply section attached.
I feel fortunate to live in a community that has City members commited to mitigating Climate Crisis.
All the best,
Ita Killeen
October 31, 2020 City of Bozeman Attn Natalie Meyer or Jon Henderson
Sent via email: agenda@bozeman.net Dear City of Bozeman Representatives:
I want to thank Natalie Meyer, the members of the Bozeman City Commission and Staff, and the many volunteer contributors to the Bozeman Climate Plan. It is clear that much effort and expertise
has gone into this comprehensive plan for mitigating and promoting resilience to the Climate Crisis. As a concerned citizen of Bozeman, I would like to offer comments on Focus Area 2: Responsible & Reliable Renewable Energy Supply. Northwestern Energy goals do not align with City of Bozeman’s goals for clean energy:
• I understand that the City’s collaboration with North Western Energy is important due to its role as our utility company. However, the North Western Energy’s 2019 Resource Procurement Plan makes clear their lack of current and planned investment in solar PV and storage technology. The business interests of North Western Energy have not allowed planning for a robust transition to clean renewable energy and a lowering of emissions prior to their planned retirement of Colstrip in 2045. North Western Energy’s currently planned reliance on coal and additional gas fired power plants to supply energy to their service area is not compatible with the clean energy goals of the City of Bozeman.
• It is imperative for the City of Bozeman to be proactive in preparing for an alternative plan that does not rely on a radical change in North Western Energy’s business model. I support the Plan in the need for an “immediate”, independent economic analysis on utility scale clean energy solutions including Community Choice Aggregation (CCA). Many communities have found that CCA is able to provide clean energy that is cheaper than fossil fuel generated energy.
• The City should move cautiously in any agreement with North Western Energy. I appreciate that the Plan states it will provide transparency and a time for public comment in consideration of any Memorandum of Understanding between North Western Energy and the City of Bozeman. Carbon Intensity vs Carbon Emission as a metric:
• I question the use of carbon intensity vs carbon emissions as a performance measure for progress in meeting renewable energy supply goals. The reason to reduce carbon intensity is to reach lower carbon emissions and it is only by lowering total carbon emissions that we can mitigate climate change. Carbon emissions should be the metric used in the Plan. Just Transition to Include Plans for Robust Clean Up of Sites:
• I support the concern for a just transition for communities and workforces impacted by loss of coal jobs as stated in Focus Area 2.D . I would like to propose the addition of language that supports robust clean-up efforts as a way to enhance Just Transition efforts. Ie. Dewatering of Colstrip ash ponds and implementing a “High and Dry” secure storage of toxic material, protecting ground water for future generations, would provide an estimated 218 jobs 2020-2029 at the Colstrip site. https://northernplains.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/DIRTII_FINAL_WEB.pdf o North Western Energy has not yet supported this plan or committed to funding for other Just Transition plans at Colstrip.
Green Tariff Program vs Community Choice Aggregation:
• A Green Tariff program may be of use if we could be assured that all of the energy in the program was produced by new clean renewable energy projects located in North Western Energy’s service territory and did not allow shifting of “dirty electrons” to other communities. This potential was clearly described as a disadvantage of renewable energy certificates in the Plan.
• A concern is that the Green Tariff program is a voluntary program that depends on choices by those with disposable income and it may not be an effective or equitable pathway to achieve the aggressive clean energy goals that are necessary for climate mitigation and endorsed by the Plan. Clean energy in surrounding states is found to be less expensive than energy produced by coal and gas so a Green Tariff program would have to be closely examined by independent experts to ensure that it would achieve the goals of the Plan at a reasonable cost.
• If the economic analysis for Community Choice Aggregation confirms it to provide cleaner, cheaper energy than North Western Energy can provide, this may be a more viable alternative for the City’s goal of climate mitigation than a Green Tariff Program. Carbon Pricing:
• Many economists believe that carbon pricing is the most effective way to lower carbon emissions. I would support North Western Energy paying a gradually increasing carbon fee based on established carbon pricing principles, with the fee being used to offset the cost of energy to low income households that are the most energy burdened. I suggest that the Plan explicitly state that a Carbon Pricing option will be included in the upcoming economic analysis of utility scale clean energy solutions. Advocacy for State Legislation:
• The Plan should commit to promoting state legislation that supports local efforts for community solar and storage, including expansion of state credits for private solar PV, establishment of building codes to enable solar ready development, increasing the current 50kW cap on solar installations and allowing communities to develop Community Choice Aggregation.
• The City should actively resist further efforts by North Western Energy at the Public Service Commission and legislature to roll back Net Metering provisions for distributed
clean energy.
• I appreciate the Plan’s support for Property Assessed Clean Energy options and hope that
the City will actively promote the Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy bill (C-PACE) that will be proposed in the 2021 state legislature. I congratulate the City of Bozeman for its forward approach in planning for climate crisis mitigation and resilience. I believe that the Bozeman Climate Plan can be a model for other communities to emulate. I hope you will consider my comments as you prepare the final Bozeman Climate Plan. Respectfully, Ita Killeen 1504 South 3rd Ave Bozeman MT 59715 406-556-8222