Electricity and Buildings Working Group: Goal, Strategies, Actions

Cynthia MichellDave HostetlerEllyn Murphy

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The Challenge is Immense and Urgent

We are rapidly approaching a tipping point if we do not flatten the exponential rise in GHG EmissionsAccelerated warming at the Poles • Disruption of ocean currents• Permafrost melting• Extreme sea level rise

State Energy Strategy - Transformative NOT Incremental Change Needed to Meet GHG Targets

• Maximize Renewables & Distributed Energy Resources (DERs) throughout the electric grid.

• Integrate buildings with the electric grid to optimize a modern, smart grid.

• Rapid electrification of transportation• Utilize demand response and other load

management throughout the grid• Use waste products to create biofuels and

waste heat for district heating.

Transportation

Industry, Waste, Agriculture

Electricity

Building Heating

Washington State

97,458,200MT CO2e

Comparing Whatcom Communitywide with State Using State Categories

Transportation

Industry, Waste, Agriculture

Electricity

Building Heating*

Washington State Whatcom Communitywide

Industry

Agriculture

Waste

97,458,200MT CO2e

5.6%

2.8%

7,583,578MT CO2e

State Per Capita Emissions13.3 MT CO2e/person

County Per Capita Emissions35 MT CO2e/person

*heating by combus-tion of fossil fuels (not electricity)

Whatcom County Faces an Economic Tipping Point

Challenges• Point-source pollution causes over half of

Whatcom County’s GHG emissions.• County employment and economy strongly

tied to fossil fuel industries.• PSE’s electric grid is over 50% fossil based

compared with the state average of ~25%.• Statewide transportation causes nearly half of

the state’s GHG emissions.

If we do not turn our challenges into opportunities, then we will miss being competitive in the new worldwide energy economy.

Opportunities• BP’s worldwide commitment to reduce GHG

emissions & increase renewable energy.• Take advantage of our manufacturing

workforce to transition to clean fuel production & add jobs in renewable industries

• Work with our private and 3 public utilities to accelerate access to renewable electricity and DERs for maximizing Resilience

CIAC Challenge Based on the GHG Mitigation Goals - Communitywide

Communitywide (Whatcom County) Targets: A 45% reduction below 1990 levels by 2030A 95% reduction below 1990 levels and net zero emissions by 2050

20222017

20202025

20302035

20402045

2050

Industry, Ag, Waste

Electricity

Heating

8

2

10

4

5

3

6

7

Mill

ion

MT

CO2e

Transportation

~2.6M MTCO2e

Communitywide Emission Targets

59%59%

18%

14%

9%

CIAC Challenge Based on the GHG Mitigation Goals – County Gov’t Operations

County Government Targets:An 85% reduction below 2001 levels by 2030A 100% reduction below 2001 levels by 2050

20222017

20202025

20302035

20402045

2050

8

2

0

4

6

Thou

sand

MT

CO2e

10

Buildings/ Facilities

Vehicle Fleet

Solid Waste

Employee Commute 1,544 MTCO2e

County Government Emission Targets

Electricity and BuildingsGoal: Reduce GHG emissions in Electricity and Buildings by 45% in 2030, while creating equity-centered resiliency in these sectors.

Why Combine Electricity and Buildings in the County Climate Action Plan?• For well over a decade the U.S. Dept. of Energy has promoted a modern, smart grid

where buildings become a “grid asset” to manage load.• With the expansion of broadband internet, use of AMI’s are no longer a barrier for two-

way communication on the grid.• From a “systems approach” Electricity and Buildings are two sectors that can and should

be integrated in the short term (next 5-10 yrs) through the incorporation of DERs.

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A Modern, Resilient Grid Depends on Top-Down Centralized Generation and Bottom-Up Distributed Energy Resources

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Fuel supply disrupt-tions disable genera-tion facilities

Generation failures limit power supply to transmission

Transmission outages disable wide service areas

End-use services rely on operation of all upstream components

CASCADING FAILURE

CASCADING FAILURE

Fuel Supply Generation Transmission Distribution End Use

Vulnerabilities for Top-Down Centralized Generation

Credit: Reimagining Grid Resilience, Rocky Mtn. Institute

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Seven Key Strategies

1. County Leadership: Adopt state energy strategy recommendations as they apply to Whatcom County and assert leadership in state legislation, regulatory matters, and WUTC that facilitates a 45% reduction in GHGs by 2030.

2. Infrastructure: Assess Transmission & Distribution (T&D) systems countywide to identify 1) new transmission for acquiring renewable en-ergy from other regions or states, and 2) resilience hubs for fortifying in case of disasters and 3) distribution capacity limits for distributed energy resources (DERs).

Communitywide Strategies:

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Seven Key Strategies (con’t)3. Rapidly Deploy DERs: Quickly ramp up the use of distributed energy

resources (DERs) countywide to reduce peak electricity demand, optimize the grid, and provide electricity to buildings when the utility grid is down.

4. Energy Efficient Buildings: Transition existing and new buildings to Net Zero Carbon (NZC) energy use to reduce GHG emissions and operating costs. Create resilience to natural disasters and climate impacts through behind the meter DERs.

5. Implementation: County staff support, financial support, and in-centives for businesses, residences, and non-profit organizations for energy efficiency and renewable energy improvements.

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Seven Key Strategies (con’t)

6. County Buildings: Demonstrate leadership in energy efficiency & conservation in buildings operated by the county.

7. Demonstration Projects: Develop innovative demonstration projects and secure state, federal, and/or private funding to advance grid modernization, renewable energy and NZC buildings.

Whatcom County Government Operations Strategies:

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1) County Leadership: Adopt state energy strategy recommendations as they apply to Whatcom County and assert leadership in state legislation that facilitates a 45% reduction in GHGs by 2030.

Actions 1.Hire or appoint a senior climate advisor to coordinate strategies 2.Stay informed of PSE’s proposed compliance actions in its 2021 IRP and 2022 Clean

Energy Implementation Plan. 3.Identify options for expanding public power in the county to accelerate the use of

renewable energy. 4.Work with PSE, MUDs, and PUD-1 to provide county residents with cost-competitive

utility scale options for renewable energy.5.Identify land areas where large scale solar or wind could be located and facilitate county

regulations for deployment.6.Support state-wide legislation that will help achieve GHG goals for 2030 (e.g., VNM,

PACE). 14

PSE vs PUD Average Cost of Power in Washington

0

4

6

8

10

12

2

Prepared by Regulatory Assistance Program (RAP) www.raponline.org, using information from the Energy Information Administration at the U.S. Department of Energy. 15

Utility-Scale Solar, Wind, Battery Storage in Richland, WA• Horn Rapids Solar, Storage & Training

Project – partnership; 20 acres, 4 MW electricity to power 600 homes and training program for solar & battery technicians• Energy NW & Tucci Energy Services

300-acre solar project, 75 MW to power 11,000 homes under development.• Scout Clean Energy is building a

wind/solar/ battery farm in the Horse Heaven Hills:ØPhase 1: up to 350 MW by 2022ØPhase 2: up to 500 MW by 2024

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Horn Rapids Solar, Storage, Training Project

Horse Heaven Hills Plateau

Renewable Energy is Cost EffectiveResults from Colorado Excel

bid solicitation, Dec. 2018

Coal Gas Nuclear Solar Wind

$11$5

$26$25

$7

$18

$18$30

Fuel Operation & Maintenance

Solar energy with Storage is Cost Effective

Project Size MW

Cost/MWh with storage

Battle Mountain (NV) 100 $30.94

Dodge Flat (NV) 200 $34.03

8 Minute Solar (CA) 400 $39.65

Buena Vista (TX) 100 ~$30

Arroyo (NM) 300 ~$30

Prepared by Regulatory Assistance Program (RAP) www.raponline.org, using information from the Energy Information Administration and Xcel Energy.

Prepared by RAP www.raponline.org, using data from Utility Dive..17

2) Infrastructure: Assess T&D systems countywide to identify: a) new transmission for acquiring renewable energy from other regions or states, b) resilience hubs for fortifying in case of disasters and c) distribution capacity limits for distributed energy resources (DERs).

Actions Work with electric utilities and nearby counties to:1.Define T&D systems capacities and identify deficiencies. Address deficiencies, which

may include revising county regulations for new transmission.2.Map key emergency & public services and develop plans to provide clean energy power in

the event of a disaster & community benefits during normal times.3.Identify electricity distribution capacity limits so that DERs can be added at the least cost

and where most needed.4.Evaluate the need for underground utility lines in areas of the county where frequent

outages occur due to distribution lines.18

3) Rapidly Deploy DERs: Quickly ramp up the use of distributed energy resources countywide to reduce peak electricity demand, optimize the grid, and provide electricity to buildings when the utility grid is down.

Actions

1.Work with utilities to develop proposal(s) to state’s clean energy fund to reduce electric peak demand and optimize the grid with DERs.

2.Support PUD-1 broadband deployment to facilitate DER expansion 3.Evaluate public buildings, such as schools, fire departments, etc., for community

solar/battery projects. 4.Deploy energy storage in targeted locations where batteries, can provide more than one

function (ie. reduce peak demand and function during outages). 5.Maintain a publicly available dashboard of up-to-date, DERs and grid-connected

renewable energy resources over time against target GHG emissions to show progress.19

The modern electric grid that maximizes resilience, flexibility and efficiency

Battery Storage

Transmission

Solar

Power Plants

Wind

Industrial Flexible Loads

Distribution

EV Parking Lot powered renew-

able energy

Utility-Scale Power Examples of Distributed Energy Resources

Community Solar or Wind

Energy Efficiency

Rooftop Solar

Home Appliances & Batteries

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DERs Shave Peak Demand

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Microgrids Provide Resilience

Orcas Power & Light Microgrid

Resilience Uninterrupted power when utility grid down for Hospitals, Fire/Police Stations, Emergency

Services, Schools/Shelters, Nursing Homes, Neighborhoods, or individual buildings and homes. Can also be used in a transactive mode to reduce energy bills.

Snohomish PUD Arlington Microgrid

Solar-Powered Parking Lot

4) Energy Efficient Buildings: Transition existing and new buildings to Net Zero Carbon (NZC) energy use to reduce GHG emissions and operating costs. Create resilience to natural disasters and climate impacts through behind the meter DERs.

Actions 1.Implement latest WA state building codes into county building codes with NZC & all

electric by 2027 code.2.Educate the public/builders on the value of NZE homes and buildings & available

financing.3.Incentivize, subsidize, and/or require installation of high efficiency electric appliances in

existing buildings when space & water heaters need replacement & in new construction.4.Offset net carbon emissions in new construction by purchasing equivalent renewable

energy resources such as rooftop solar.5.Develop regulations that reduce embodied carbon in building construction.

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Net Zero Carbon Homes & Buildings Anacortes Triple Zero Home by Ted Clifton

Builder: David Wallace of CVH Inc./Clifton View Homes

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Cannon Beach, OR NZE home

Seattle NZE home

Seattle Bullitt Center - 2013

5) Implementation: County staff support, financial support, & incentives for businesses, residences, and organizations for energy efficiency and renewable energy improvements.

Actions 1.Form a team/committee of senior staff to meet and report quarterly on progress

implementing climate strategies and actions.2.Assign/identify county staff to implement climate strategies. 3.Include climate resilience actions in management and staff performance goals.4.Clearly communicate economic, social and environmental factors for policy

implementation.5.Pilot C-PACER program at county level in 2021.6.Support non-profit orgs that provide energy efficiency upgrades to buildings.

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Whatcom County Government Operations Strategies

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6) County Buildings: Demonstrate leadership in energy efficiency & conservation in buildings operated by the county.

Actions 1.Develop a multiyear master plan for upgrading and/or consolidating county government

facilities to maximize energy conservation & efficiency.

2.Install behind the meter battery storage systems, rooftop solar on county government buildings and EV charging infrastructure.

3.Commit to NZC for new county government buildings and facilities.

4.Develop policies and standardized building plans for fast-tracking NZC building permits.

5.Secure increased funding through energy transformation project (ETP) or other sources

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7) Demonstration: Develop innovative demonstration projects and secure state, federal, and/or private funding to advance grid modernization, renewable energy and NZC buildings.

Actions Develop a list of limited-size demonstration projects to implement new concepts associated with a modern grid: 1.Identify partners and potential funding sources.2.Plan microgrids for emergency facilities, such as the emergency operations center,

hospitals, police, and fire stations. 3.Plan and implement microgrids on select schools to support community solar and

emergency response shelters.4.Design a new NZC county office building, multistory, constructed using cross-laminated

timber, as a tribute to the county’s forestry heritage (to replace existing building(s) and consolidate county staff).

5.Conceptual design of a community campus microgrid27

NZC Cross-Laminated Timber County Office Building A tribute to the County’s forestry heritage and a showcase

for building construction & operation.

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UBC Center for Interactive Research on Sustainability

Minneapolis T3 (timber, technology, transit) 224,000 sq ft office and retail space

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