CC SR 20211116 08 - Green House Gas Emissions Analysis
CITY COUNCIL MEETING DATE: 11/16/2021
AGENDA REPORT AGENDA HEADING: Regular Business
AGENDA TITLE:
Consideration and possible action to receive an analysis of the City’s greenhouse gas
emissions from electricity use.
RECOMMENDED COUNCIL ACTION:
(1) Receive and file an analysis of the City’s greenhouse gas emissions from electricity
use.
FISCAL IMPACT: None
Amount Budgeted: N/A
Additional Appropriation: N/A
Account Number(s): N/A
ORIGINATED BY: Megan Barnes, Senior Administrative Analyst
REVIEWED BY: Karina Bañales, Deputy City Manager
APPROVED BY: Ara Mihranian, AICP, City Manager
ATTACHED SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS:
A. December 15, 2020, staff report
B. RPV Communitywide 2018-2020 Electricity Usage Analysis (page B-1)
C. RPV Citizen Satisfaction Survey Sustainability/Conservation Results (page C-1)
BACKGROUND:
On December 15, 2020, Staff provided the City Council with an update on efforts to
determine the City’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from electricity use. This analysis
had been requested when the City Council explored potentially pursuing community
choice aggregation (CCA) for electricity service as a greener alternative to the traditional
investor-owned utility model.
Staff obtained aggregated communitywide electricity usage data from SCE (with no
personal identifying information) for the years 2018 and 2019, and planned to use
software through its membership with the South Bay Cities Council of Governments
(SBCCOG) to perform the analysis. However, in discussions with the SBCCOG, it was
1
determined that it would be best if the data was handled by a research fellow versed in
performing GHG emission inventories. The SBCCOG brought on CivicSpark Fellow Anne
Youngdahl in September 2021 and Staff began working with her to produce the analysis.
Due to the significant amount of time that passed from when this item last went before
the City Council to when Staff was able to begin working on the analysis, Staff submitted
an additional request to SCE for communitywide usage data for 2020 to have the most
recent year available. Staff received the data from SCE shortly thereafter and provided it
to Ms. Youngdahl for her preparation of the analysis.
Tonight, Staff presents the results of the requested analysis to the City Council. It should
be noted that this analysis looks at GHG emissions from home and commercial electricity
use only, just one of multiple sources of carbon emissions.
The SBCCOG is in the process of updating GHG inventories across all categories
(transportation, water, solid waste, etc.) for South Bay cities, including Rancho Palos
Verdes, to see if they met their reduction targets for 2020, the first benchmark year in
their Climate Action Plans (for RPV, this is referred to as the Emissions Reduction Action
Plan ((ERAP)).
DISCUSSION:
Reduction Targets
In 2015, as part of the development of the City’s Emissions Reduction Action Plan
(ERAP), the City set GHG emission reduction targets of 15% below 2005 levels by 2020,
49% below 2005 by 2035, and 80% below 2005 by 2050. The ERAP outlines ways to
reduce GHG emissions in RPV, including energy efficiency strategies.
According to the ERAP, energy efficiency strategies had the potential to account for 66%
of reductions needed for the City to meet its overall 2020 target. It’s important to note that
“energy efficiency strategies” as defined in the ERAP includes both electricity and natural
gas. It is not possible to determine whether the City is on track toward reaching its 2020
target by looking only at electricity use. We will not know that until the broader GHG
emissions inventory across all categories is completed with the SBCCOG.
Analysis
When reviewing the analysis, there are a few things to keep in mind:
1) This is an analysis of emissions generated by electricity use, not electricity use
itself
2) The emissions figures were calculated by multiplying the amount of electricity used
in the City each year by an emissions factor provided by SCE. The emissions factor
is a measure of the GHG intensity of an activity, such as the amount of carbon
dioxide in one kilowatt-hour of electricity.
2
3) 2020 reflects an unusual year of electricity consumption due to the COVID-19
pandemic (working from home, virtual learning, business closures, etc.)
The table below summarizes how many metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (MT
CO2e) were generated from electricity use in RPV from 2018-2020.
Rancho Palos Verdes Community GHG Emissions from Electricity (in MT CO2e)
Year Residential Use Commercial Use
2018 25,908 13,249
2019 21,230 9,749
2020 28,928 11,300
The graph below compares these emissions to those generated in 2005, 2007, 2010 and
2012 (a larger version is available on page 5 of Attachment B).
Overall, emissions from electricity use in RPV have decreased since 2005. Why that has
occurred could be a combination of lower consumption and/or different emissions factors,
which are the result of a different power mix from SCE (for example, more or less coal is
used). A deeper investigation is needed to determine the reasons for the decrease. This
will be explored in the comprehensive GHG emissions inventory that will be completed
with the SBCCOG in the coming months. Understanding the “why” will help ensure the
City Council is well-informed when creating new policies regarding GHG emissions.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
3
For the City Council’s reference, Staff has included previously presented data from the
Sustainability/Conservation section of the RPV Citizen Satisfaction Survey (Attachment
C). An online version of the results (which includes open -ended responses) is available
at the following link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/results/SM-FGZCWFX29/.
CONCLUSION:
Tonight’s presentation is informational to provide the City Council with data on RPV’s
progress in reducing GHG emissions from electricity use. The Council can use this
information, as well as the forthcoming broader GHG emissions inventory, when crafting
new policies and providing direction to Staff on related issues.
4
Electricity GHG Emissions Inventory Update
City of Rancho Palos Verdes
November 2021
Prepared by SBCCOG CivicSpark Fellow Anne Youngdahl B-1
Background
•Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions Inventory (all sources) –completed in 2005, 2007, 2010, and 2012
•The City of Rancho Palos Verdes selected Energy Efficiency (EE) strategies for reducing emissions which were approved by the City Council in 2015 along with GHG reduction targets for 2020 and 2035.
B-2
Community Emissions Inventories, Projections, & Approved Targets
Source: EECAP B-3
Approved Emission Reduction Plan Targets
•Reduce GHG emissions by 15%below
2005 by 2020
o 65.98% of reductions (12,766 MT
CO2e/yr) from Energy Efficiency (EE)
strategies (electricity AND natural gas)
•49% below 2005 by 2035
•80% below 2005 by 2050
B-4
16,509 16,499 17,996 20,646
13,249 9,749 11,300
38,578 37,063 36,361
40,833
25,908
21,230
28,928
-
10,000
20,000
30,000
40,000
50,000
60,000
70,000
2005 2007 2010 2012 2018 2019 2020Metric Tons of Carbon Dioxide Equivalent (MT CO2e)City of Rancho Palos Verdes Community GHG Emissions from
Electricity (MT CO2e), selected years 2005-2020
Commercial Energy Residential Energy B-5
Next Steps
•Complete a comprehensive GHG emissions inventory update to
understand the status of all emissions categories
•Celebrate progress toward 2020 goals!
•Identify next steps to reach 2035 goals
•Potentially identify goals for 2050 to align with State goals
B-6
Rancho Palos Verdes Citizen Satisfaction Survey
1 / 10
Q20 1. Please rank your top general environmental concerns, with 1 being
the most concerning:
Answered: 2,132 Skipped: 209
44.91%
780
25.73%
447
15.72%
273
7.77%
135
4.15%
72
1.50%
26
0.23%
4
1,737
5.94
18.57%
310
40.38%
674
22.11%
369
12.28%
205
5.03%
84
1.38%
23
0.24%
4
1,669
5.50
18.99%
268
14.03%
198
15.73%
222
17.86%
252
19.28%
272
11.91%
168
2.20%
31
1,411
4.51
20.41%
301
12.95%
191
17.22%
254
14.51%
214
16.61%
245
15.73%
232
2.58%
38
1,475
4.49
16.80%
255
14.95%
227
17.79%
270
16.93%
257
14.23%
216
16.73%
254
2.57%
39
1,518
4.43
4.17%
51
5.39%
66
14.38%
176
17.16%
210
22.79%
279
30.72%
376
5.39%
66
1,224
3.37
21.97%
152
4.19%
29
4.05%
28
3.61%
25
1.73%
12
5.78%
40
58.67%
406
692
2.89
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Air pollution
Water pollution
Extreme weather
Food and water
Security
Natural
resource...
Sea level rise
Other (specify
in the field...
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 TOTAL SCORE
Air pollution
Water pollution
Extreme weather
Food and water Security
Natural resource depletion
Sea level rise
Other (specify in the field below)
C-1
Rancho Palos Verdes Citizen Satisfaction Survey
2 / 10
Q21 Other concern:
Answered: 305 Skipped: 2,036
C-2
Rancho Palos Verdes Citizen Satisfaction Survey
3 / 10
Q22 2. Please rank your top local environmental concerns, with 1 being
the most concerning:
Answered: 2,139 Skipped: 202
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Ocean/beach
pollution
Impacts of
chemical...
Wildfire hazard
Health of
marine life
Port/refinery
pollution
GHG emissions
from...
GHG emissions
from energy use
Sea level rise
Idle oil/gas
wells
Other (specify
in the field...
C-3
Rancho Palos Verdes Citizen Satisfaction Survey
4 / 10
35.55%
621
29.54%
516
16.43%
287
8.47%
148
4.75%
83
2.86%
50
1.32%
23
0.63%
11
0.40%
7
0.06%
1
1,747 8
19.99%
318
28.66%
456
21.24%
338
13.83%
220
7.35%
117
3.96%
63
2.33%
37
1.76%
28
0.75%
12
0.13%
2
1,591 8
39.07%
663
11.43%
194
8.90%
151
9.37%
159
6.36%
108
5.30%
90
10.14%
172
5.89%
100
3.24%
55
0.29%
5
1,697 7
7.59%
115
15.91%
241
22.38%
339
20.99%
318
10.43%
158
7.92%
120
6.34%
96
5.48%
83
2.71%
41
0.26%
4
1,515 6
14.74%
217
14.54%
214
12.91%
190
11.96%
176
9.92%
146
7.20%
106
8.36%
123
16.85%
248
2.92%
43
0.61%
9
1,472 6
6.61%
81
8.08%
99
11.51%
141
13.14%
161
21.55%
264
17.39%
213
14.61%
179
5.06%
62
2.04%
25
0.00%
0
1,225 6
1.29%
15
5.61%
65
7.85%
91
8.20%
95
12.34%
143
24.68%
286
19.50%
226
14.24%
165
5.35%
62
0.95%
11
1,159 5
2.14%
24
5.08%
57
11.78%
132
9.01%
101
12.67%
142
9.81%
110
11.33%
127
15.88%
178
19.27%
216
3.03%
34
1,121 4
0.89%
10
3.93%
44
4.38%
49
4.64%
52
6.88%
77
7.95%
89
8.66%
97
15.71%
176
44.29%
496
2.68%
30
1,120 3
9.15%
57
3.53%
22
1.28%
8
0.96%
6
1.77%
11
0.64%
4
0.80%
5
1.12%
7
4.98%
31
75.76%
472
623 2
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 TOTAL SCO
Ocean/beach
pollution
Impacts of
chemical
dumping off
the coast
(eg. DDT,
PCBs)
Wildfire
hazard
Health of
marine life
Port/refinery
pollution
GHG
emissions
from
transportation
GHG
emissions
from energy
use
Sea level rise
Idle oil/gas
wells
Other
(specify in
the field
below)
C-4
Rancho Palos Verdes Citizen Satisfaction Survey
5 / 10
Q23 Other concern:
Answered: 155 Skipped: 2,186
C-5
Rancho Palos Verdes Citizen Satisfaction Survey
6 / 10
Q24 3. Which of the following sustainability/conservation programs interest
you? (check all that apply)
Answered: 2,188 Skipped: 153
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
E-waste
collection...
Expanded
recycling...
Sustainable/dro
ught-toleran...
Energy
efficiency...
Home solar
incentives
Electric
vehicle (EV)...
Tree planting
opportunities
Expanded
bicycle/pede...
Greywater
reuse...
Food scraps
recycling/co...
Expanded
public transit
Other (please
specify)
C-6
Rancho Palos Verdes Citizen Satisfaction Survey
7 / 10
57.63% 1,261
51.55% 1,128
49.04% 1,073
46.12% 1,009
41.64% 911
41.27% 903
39.95% 874
33.64% 736
29.80% 652
27.88% 610
24.73% 541
4.02% 88
Total Respondents: 2,188
ANSWER CHOICES RESPONSES
E-waste collection events
Expanded recycling opportunities
Sustainable/drought-tolerant landscaping opportunities
Energy efficiency incentives (appliance subsidies, waived permit fees for green building projects, etc.)
Home solar incentives
Electric vehicle (EV) charging stations/parking spaces
Tree planting opportunities
Expanded bicycle/pedestrian amenities
Greywater reuse opportunities
Food scraps recycling/composting opportunities
Expanded public transit
Other (please specify)
C-7
Rancho Palos Verdes Citizen Satisfaction Survey
8 / 10
69.34%1,316
30.66%582
Q25 4. Do you feel that the City is doing enough to promote sustainability?
Answered: 1,898 Skipped: 443
TOTAL 1,898
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
Yes
No
ANSWER CHOICES RESPONSES
Yes
No
C-8
Rancho Palos Verdes Citizen Satisfaction Survey
9 / 10
Q26 5. If you answered “no” to the previous question, what would you like
to see the City do?
Answered: 529 Skipped: 1,812
C-9
Rancho Palos Verdes Citizen Satisfaction Survey
10 / 10
30.18%676
26.74%599
19.87%445
8.21%184
8.13%182
6.88%154
Q27 6. Are you interested in having more of the electricity that powers
your home come from renewable sources, such as wind and solar?
Answered: 2,240 Skipped: 101
TOTAL 2,240
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
Interested
Very Interested
Neither
Interested n...
Not at all
Interested
I have a home
solar system
Not Very
Interested
ANSWER CHOICES RESPONSES
Interested
Very Interested
Neither Interested nor Disinterested
Not at all Interested
I have a home solar system
Not Very Interested
C-10