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HomeMy WebLinkAboutApproved Minutes 04-22-21 Bozeman Climate Partners Working Group 1 Bozeman Climate Partners Working Group April 22, 2021 at 2:00pm Via Webex Attendees: Natalie Meyer (staff liaison), Dan Perata, Kathy Powell, Kristen Walser, Kristin Blackler, Jay Sinnott, Tony Hartshorn, Deputy Mayor Cunningham (Commission Liaison), Ebel Roland, Matt Thompson A. Call Meeting to Order Meeting called to order at 2:03 pm B. Changes to the Agenda None C. Minutes Minutes from 3/25/21 approved Kathy Powell: Motion Kristin Walser: 2nd D. Public Comment Dan Perata Recommended Remarkable device to save paper for notetaking. E. Special Presentations 1. MSU & City of Bozeman Food Composting Study Dr. Roland Ebel • Seeking community participants. • Aim to produce sustainable biofertilizers at the household level. • Program will distribute 12 biodigesters; 6 will be commercial (5x3 ft), 6 homemade (size of barrel). • Mid-May identify participants and households will receive digesters in June. • Will collect food waste bimonthly for 4 months in 2021, monthly for 6 months in 2022. • Summer of 2022 will begin analyzing composition of biofertilizer. • Digesters should be located outside in shade. • Interested residents should fill out a 3-question survey with address and demographic. questions within informational handout. 2 • Natalie will distribute survey via NextDoor and Facebook, possibly through Neighborhood Associations. Dan Perata asked about ideal candidate, commercial or residential? How will bins be assigned? • Targeting residential customers, but one is a commercially available unit and one homemade. • Each unit will be randomly assigned. Kristen Walser asked if the finished product would be available to households with bins during the research project? • Households will be able to keep most of the biofertilizer, researchers will only take a small sample. Kathy Powell asked about smells and gas byproducts and how often material might be opened to add food residuals. Where will food residuals be collected throughout the week? How will liquids be collected? Biofertilizer can be acidic, how will users balance the pH? What about pathogens? What about GHGs generated? • Odors are primarily a concern when containers are first opened, but they should remain closed most of the time. It’s important to keep the containers outside. • Material should be added on a weekly basis. • The odor can be intense, but when operated efficiently, people get used to it. • Food can be collected in a container between opening the bin and they will develop guidelines for the most efficient operation. • pH is dependent on the feedstock. There is a study that suggests that household feedstock can be neutral to alkaline • Meat will not be added during the study. • Pathogens should not be present after 5-6 weeks of the digestion process in our climate. • The research team is not measuring GHG emissions in the study, but compared to disposing of food waste in the garbage and landfilled, the process is likely to result in the same level of GHG emissions. However, this is a more sustainable technology than landfilling food waste. Producing the biofertilizer can help avoid the purchase of chemical fertilizers, which is very carbon intensive to produce. 2. City Composting Program Update Natalie Meyer • Regular yard composting collection begins May 17. The Solid Waste Division had hoped to start household food collection this spring, but this has been delayed due to COVID related staffing issues. • Solid Waste will, however, pilot food residual collection in a large subdivision this spring. 3 • The will give the Solid Waste Division the opportunity to screen material to identify potential operational issues. • The City is partnering with a private composting company to handle food, yard, and tree trimmings residuals. Kathy Powell asked if the private composter would integrate yard materials and if City would continue composting at the Story Mill facility? • Yes and the city will continue to compost at the Story Mill facility. 3. Gallatin Valley Earth Day Anne Ready • Gallatin Valley Earth Day held a big event at Library with kids’ activities including a passport system to encourage kids to visit each station and receive a prize. • Tonight they will have a fun video (Bozeman Arts Live) with live performances and a short film with Claire Vlases when she was in middle school working to advance solar, and a locally produced video with children describing what they would like to see on Earth Day. • Kristen Walser through Citizen Climate Education will be hosting an online art event. • Visit gallatinvalleyearthday.org for a detailed calendar schedule and description. • Next Saturday two events in Parks: Story Mill Community Park on planting gardens for birds and at the Gallatin County Regional Park with first annual fun run that will benefit the solar club at Bozeman High. 4. 2021 Legislative Roundup Natalie Meyer • SB 379 is referred to as the Colstrip bailout bill. It failed in House Committee (11-1). Must remain vigilant for a revival bill. Thanks to advocates and Deputy Mayor Cunningham for their efforts. • SB 257 is a bill to prevent local jurisdictions from implementing a carbon fee, tax, or penalty. The bill passed and is heading to Governor’s office. It is still written broadly and my result in litigation. • HB 188 increases EV registration fees ($150-$500) to be higher than neighboring states and passed. Returned to House with a 2nd set of amendments. • HB 407 blocks local governments from banning plastic and Styrofoam passed and signed by Governor. • HB 448 increases the cap on commercial rooftop solar to 350 kW, passed by House, later influenced by NorthWestern Energy and a labor group. Damaging amendment that will likely require PSC to revisit net-metering rate and require onerous requirement for commercial and residential net-metering. Returned to House with amendments. It was rejected and now goes to a conference committee. Additional Comments: 4 • Ridiculous that a home-owner would need to retain an electrician for a residential system. • Composition of the conference committee is important because members are voting along party lines. • SB 147 Commercial Property Assessed Capital Enhancements passed and heading to Governor’s desk. This will potentially will be a good tool for the city. 5. Reorganization of Advisory Boards Natalie Meyer • City Manager asked board chairs to complete a survey form of board duties. • Bozeman Climate Partners is a temporary work without a designated chair. • Meyer contacted original appointed members of the Bozeman Climate Partners to work together to fill out the form and asked Kathy Powell to be a conduit for the information. Kathy Powell • Met with Jay Sinnott, Kristen Walser, and Joan Montagne for input. • Submitted the following in the form: o Duties:  Provide input, ideas, feedback on Bozeman Climate Plan and progress of Plan.  Monitor/comment trends in GHG inventory provided by staff.  Be informed of progress on implementation of Climate Plan by other staff and boards via guests or staff liaison.  GHG reductions, resiliency, and 5 areas of Climate Plan.  Monitor and advise on new innovation and technology.  Discuss and advise on vulnerability and resilience.  Public forum to provide progress updates and receive public input, expertise, and concerns on the Climate Plan. o Fit within Super Boards:  Sustainability listed as #1.  Safe Community, Parks & Open Space, Transportation, Community Development identified as #2 because these are also important to the successful implementation of the Climate Plan. o Additional Comments:  The proposed model requires all superboards to integrate GHG reduction and resiliency into their decisions.  Selected members should have interest and expertise in climate change issues.  Recommended that sub-committees should be used to advise super boards and ensure efficiency and effective meetings. 5 • Staff responded that additional comments on work of the Climate Partners can be directed to Melody Mileur, Natalie Meyer, or Deputy Mayor Cunningham. In May the comments and will be brought to the Commission for potential action or discussion. 6. FYI/Discussion Natalie Meyer • Mayor Andrus signed on to support Executive Order on planning for the impact of climate change on migration calling for engagement with U.S. mayors and municipalities in planning • MSU Friday Forum, May 14 at noon, Positive Climate Impacts with Natalie Meyer and Taylor Lonsdale • NorthWestern Energy announced that they have entered into contracts for 325 MW of capacity resources resulting from their all-resource procurement RFP last year. This represents half of the capacity resources they are seeking at this time. Includes 175 MW from natural gas reciprocating engines, 100 MW from B.C. hydro electricity, and 50 MW of lithium ion energy storage. Kathy Powell asked for an update on the green tariff. • Staff shared that the cities and the consultant are in an analysis period. Expect to present a proposal to NorthWestern within the next few weeks to discuss the details of a proposal. Kristen Walser • A new carbon pricing bill similar to the Energy Innovation Act of 2019 was introduced that includes three legs: carbon fee slowly rising ($15 to increase by $10/ton/year), dividend with cash back to families/individuals, and border carbon adjustment. Changes include: took out fluorinated gases, took out the regulatory pause, and changed the target to be net zero at 2050. 40 co-sponsors already. • John Kerry referenced that President Biden is interested in a carbon price and this can be introduced through reconciliation. Dan Perata asked, how do our targets fit with federal goals? What else can we do with affordable housing following the State’s steps to limit city action? Can the work be reframed within climate? • Staff responded that the 50% reduction by 2030 proposed by the Biden administration follows the same curve as Bozeman’s goal of a 26% reduction by 2025 and carbon neutrality by 2050. • Staff responded that affordable housing was heavily considered in the development of the Climate Plan. Reframing affordable housing as climate may not get more traction in 6 the Legislature, but we can focus on efficiency and affordability. We lost an affordable housing tool and need to put more thought into evaluating other options. Kathy Powell • A future discussion on food rescue efforts in Bozeman would be worthwhile. F. Adjournment – 3:35pm For more information please contact Staff Liaison, Natalie Meyer at nmeyer@bozeman.net This working group generally meets the fourth Thursday of the month from 2:00 pm to 3:30 pm Committee meetings are open to all members of the public. 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