BC s Climate Plan what it means for communities

Transcription

1 COMMUNITY OF PRACTICE WEBINAR BC s Climate Plan what it means for communities Dale Littlejohn Community Energy Association

2 Agenda Before We Begin Context About the Plan What s In What s Not In Yet What Next

3 Community Energy Association Purpose CEA is a charitable non-profit society CEA is the trusted independent advisor to local governments We are helping local governments close the implementation gap Accelerate Climate Action with People and Projects Awareness & Recognition Workshops & Presentations Research & Publications Collaboration Climate & Energy Action Awards Projects Planning Implementation Technology Acceleration

4 Community Energy Association Members 2015

5 Community of Practice Help communities collaborate Share best practices & challenges Small & mid-sized BC communities

6 Disclaimer Dale s opinions are his own and do not necessarily reflect those of sponsors, CEA members, the province or anyone else in the known universe

7 Other Views, Multiple Perspectives, Some Theatrics

8 Before Provincial Communities Ministries (Env, 2008 Local Government (Green Communities) Statutes Comm, Energy) and Amendment Act (Bill 27) UBCM formed Energy Aware 2008 Local Government Climate Action Charter Committee (now 2008 Climate Action Revenue Incentive program 2010 Clean Energy Act Community Energy Association) 2008 Remote Communities Implementation Program SolarBC established in partnership with federal government 2005 BC Bioenergy Strategy 2007 Public Sector Energy Conservation Agreements (PSECA) 2007 Climate Action Secretariat established 2007 Energy Plan Funding 2008 $25 million Innovative Clean Energy (ICE) Fund 2008 $25 million Bioenergy Network 2008 $94.5 million endowment to create the Pacific Institute for Climate Solutions GHG Reduction 2008 BC Climate Action Plan 2008 Carbon tax 2008 Greenhouse Gas Reductions Targets Act & Carbon Neutral Provincial Operations 2008 Greenhouse Gas Reduction (Cap and Trade) Act 2008 Greenhouse Gas Reduction (renewable fand low carbon fuel requirements) act 2008 Greenhouse Gas Reduction (Emissions Standards) Statutes Amendment Act Miscellaneous 2008 BC Energy Efficient Buildings Strategy: More Action, Less Energy 2008 BC Green Building Code 2008 Pacific Carbon Trust and partnerships with other jurisdictions 2008 Utilities Commission Amendment Act 2009 Community Energy and Emissions Inventory (CEEI) Program 2009 LiveSmart BC: Energy Efficiency Incentive Program 2011 Signed agreements on limiting carbon emissions from government operations and promoting awareness of the impacts of sea level rise on coastal areas 2011 Clean Energy Vehicle Program 2011 Clean Energy Act Amendments for Pay-as-You-Save retrofit financing 2011 Solar Hot Water Ready Regulation 2012 Green Energy as a Rural Economic Development Tool Project 2012 Greenhouse Gas Reduction (Clean Energy) Regulation 2012 Clean Energy Vehicle Program Ongoing: ICES and climate relevant initiatives like District Energy Systems and Integrated Resource Recovery are rewarded in infrastructure and related grants (Infrastructure Planning Grants) Community Energy Leadership grant

9 Over half of BC communities have a CEEP and over 75% of BC s population lives in these communities. 9

10 Global Momentum UN Paris Agreement: <2 C China wind power UP 60%, coal DOWN more than 4% Canada Ontario Minister of Environment and Climate Change. pan-canadian climate plan. Green Infrastructure $$. Cap & Trade, advanced energy efficiency requirements in building code Manitoba Province carbon neutral by 2080 and All natural gas expansion evaluated against green heating options including value of carbon reduction. and Renewable Heat Standard Alberta Carbon Tax, New Building Code with Energy Efficiency

11 Context of Municipal GHGs

12 What is it? Q: The Climate Leadership Plan is A. The result of a process that started over a year ago that involved an immense amount of effort from highly dedicated provincial staff as well as Climate Leadership Team and other stakeholders B. An initial negotiating position with the federal government and other provinces C. A high level document that hints at many more announcements D. Setting up for the May 2017 election E. A step on the road to a final CLP F. A magic mirror that you can see what you want to in G. All of the above

13 Where are we at now? Federal-Provincial process very active Federal government openly disappointed with initial BC plan 2017 Election Already in election season with ads running Anything announced between now and June 2017 is at best tentative and dependant on budgeting once a new government is sworn in, even if it is the same government Implementation Legislation, policy, budget allocation and program roll-outs or collaboration discussions are required to implement the CLP direction Part way through a long process Up to a year or more until everything is finalized, implemented and local governments are engaging with specific programs or grants.

14 Word counts Local Governments10 Hydro 15 Fortis 11 Natural Gas 61 LNG 11 Biomass 1 Transit 26 Cost 19

15 What is in top 3 Building Code Accelerating increased energy requirements in the BC Building Code by taking incremental steps to make buildings ready to be net zero by 2032; Developing energy efficiency requirements for new buildings that go beyond those in the BC Building Code, called Stretch Codes, that interested local governments could implement in their communities; and Creating innovation opportunities and financial incentives for advanced, energyefficient buildings, including an increase in funding for design and innovation Refresh of Climate Action Charter: The goal is to establish a plan for community action that takes advantage of provincial and federal actions, to maintain momentum at the community level through policies, programs and regulations that will: Focus growth near major transit corridors for large urban communities; Increase the use of decision support tools that provide the information needed to create more resilient green infrastructure; and Strengthen the ability of communities to adapt to the impacts of climate change. FortisBC "to expand their incentives by at least 100 per cent"

16 What Is In Transportation FortisBC incentives to convert fleets to natural gas Action: call FortisBC to inquire, note this may take some time to roll through the system and be something that you can sign up for Business/NaturalGasVehicles/Howwecanhelp / Incentives/Pages/default.aspx Electric Vehicle purchase incentives and charging infrastructure Action: watch for future announcements on actual funding levels sometime between now and May and watch the website ogram and Fraser Basin Council for more details Electric Vehicle policies, particularly to allow EV charging in strata's and further supporting local governments in requiring EV charging in new development. Action: watch for future announcements

17 What s in Buildings FortisBC "to expand their incentives by at least 100 per cent" BC Hydro "to expand the mandate of its DSM programs to include investments that increase efficiency and reduce GHG emissions." Action: call FortisBC to let them know your community is interested and your local government can be a strategic partner. Action: yes, you guessed, wait and watch for another announcement sometime before May on the details of what this will look like. Action: look out for further announcements and program roll-outs Equipment standards for increased efficiency in boilers, gas fireplaces, water heating and other equipment. Action: continue to monitor ongoing equipment standards, and incorporate this into business as usual projections for community emissions

18 What s In Biomass and Waste Biomass Forest Carbon Initiative Action: watch as this is rolled out / announced, there may be potential to align with local biomass district energy or other uses of waste fibre) Waste: 90% organics diversion target Action: watch for further details on what it means for your community

19 PSO Collaboration Mandating the creation of 10-year emissions reduction and adaptation plans for provincial public sector operations Stay close to your health care and education colleagues in your community so that their plans and community energy plans can be aligned. Local governments may be useful partners in the planning.

20 What is Out The plan does NOT include several elements that many local governments have requested in the past including: Data There is no mention of CEEI (community energy and emissions inventory) or providing it to local governments in a timely manner. There is no mention of improving data quality in CEEI in the transportation sector. Requiring ICBC to collect odometer data at time of renewal would resolve this issue. Capacity While it is great to roll out new programs, there is limited capacity in many small communities to absorb these programs and take advantage of them. There is no commitment to supporting capacity in small communities.

21 Transportation There are new, yet to be announced, incentives for EV's and infrastructure but no Zero Emission Vehicle Mandate as there is in California to increase the diversity and availability of EV's. Buildings No explicit Livesmart2 language, but can be inferred if you want to Overall No clear path to previously established targets, particularly if the hoped-for LNG plants come onstream. The plan appears to step back from the level of ambition in previous plans. No specific $ commitments so it is difficult to ascertain the usefulness of some of the actions.

22 What does it mean At one milestone on a long road Now there is something to discuss and debate Lots of pieces still in play, so don t stop now Plan, platform, post-may adjustments

23 At the UBCM Conference The following resolutions may be related to climate action: B9 Priority for Construction of Bicycle Lanes B19 Local Improvement Charge for Municipally-financed Green Energy Technologies B23 Carbon Reduction Targets B38 BC Hydro Remote Community Electrification Program B48 Two Tiered Rate System B57 Pedestrian and Cycling Pathways Along Rural Road Rights-of-way B58 Climate Change Recommendations B77 Empowering Local Governments to Pursue Socially Responsible Investing B117 Passenger Rail Service Between North Vancouver and Prince George B130 Reinstatement of PST Exemption for Electric Bicycles

24 At the UBCM Conference Monday 9:00-12:00 Climate Action: Responsibilities, Opportunities and Solutions Carson Hall, Salon A, VCC Tuesday BCMCLC Invite-only breakfast Wednesday 4:15-4:30 Presentation of 2016 Climate & Energy Action Awards Oak Bay Room, VCC Thursday 7:30-8:15 Stretch Code: A New Tool for Better Buildings Lecture Theatre, VCC

25 Specific Opportunities Brief locally elected officials as they head to UBCM Put hands up for involvement in refreshing Climate Action Charter Continue to engage with utilities on their programs Inform the finalization of the plan Inform the implementation of the plan Ask provincial staff about interpretation of wording in plan

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