Greenhouse Gas CEQA Greenhouse Gas CEQA Significance Threshold Significance Threshold

Stakeholder Working Group Stakeholder Working Group #13#13

August 26, 2009SCAQMD

Diamond Bar, California

Agenda Item #2 – Updated GHG Threshold Analysis for

Residential/Commercial Development Projects

• Summary of July 29th WG meeting presentationOPR database = 798 projectsAfter removing GP/MP/SP projects, remaining

projects = 738Analysis separated residential & commercial

projects into separate databasesMixed use projects separated into their

component parts & added to the appropriate database

Did not include office projects

Agenda Item #2 – Updated GHG Threshold Analysis for

Residential/Commercial Development Projects (continued)

Analysis separated residential & commercial projects into separate databases (cont.)90% emissions capture rate for residential =

8,580 - 9,151 MTCO2e/yr90% capture rate for commercial = 2,427 –

3,041 MTCO2e/yrStaff recommended & WG agreed the analysis

should be based only on the OPR database

Agenda Item #2 – Updated GHG Threshold Analysis for

Residential/Commercial Development Projects (continued)

•Feedback from WG members included: Need to re-evaluate the largest projects as

they might not represent individual projects Should not separate mixed use projects

into their component parts as this does not represent an actual project (economies of scale with mixed use projects – less VTs)

Combine all projects, including mixed use, into a single database

GHG ST threshold should encourage mixed use development

Agenda Item #2 – Updated GHG Threshold Analysis for Residential/Commercial Development Projects (continued)

• Additional analysis conducted based on WG comments

• Further review of OPR database resulted in removing 27 additional GP/MP/SP projects, remaining projects = 711

• 1st scenario analysis consisted of combining all projects into a single databaseSame assumptions as 1st analysis used, i.e.,

Construction GHG emissions amortized over 30 yearsDirect GHG emissions calculated using URBEMISIndirect electricity/water use GHG emissions calculatedDirect & indirect emissions summed & 90th percentile

identified90th percentile ranged from 2,983 – 3,143

MTCO2e/yr

Agenda Item #2 – Updated GHG Threshold Analysis for

Residential/Commercial Development Projects (continued)

• 2nd scenario analysis consisted of a residential only plus mixed use residential databaseSame assumptions as 1st analysis used Activated double counting & pass by functions90th percentile for residential ranged from 3,310 –

3,596 MTCO2e/yr• 3rd scenario analysis consisted of a

commercial only plus mixed us commercial databaseSame assumptions as 1st analysis used Activated double counting & pass by functions90th percentile for commercial ranged from 1,390 –

1,481 MTCO2e/yr

Agenda Item #2 – Updated GHG Threshold Analysis for

Residential/Commercial Development Projects (continued)

• Discussion/considerations for deriving GHG STs for residential, commercial & mixed use projectDevelop a single GHG ST be developed based on the

90% capture rate from the combined database?Develop separate thresholds for residential &

commercial? Develop separate residential & commercial GHG STs,

which could be used to develop a weighted GHG ST for mixed use projects based on the GHG contributions from each project

Other recommendations?

Agenda Item #3 – Discussion of Tier 4 Performance

Standards Approach

•WG members requested staff begin work on the Tier 4 performance standards (PFs)

• Initial considerations for developing the Tier 4 – compliance option #1: uniform percent emission reduction target objectiveFuture projected emissions (construction

amortized over 30 years + operational)% GHG emission reductions

Agenda Item #3 – Discussion of Tier 4

Performance•Future projected emissions

CEQA existing setting (baseline) definition does not change

Same assumptions as the most recently adopted AB32 Scoping PlanAdopted regulationsLatest planning assumptionsEmission quantification methods

Agenda Item #3 – Discussion of Tier 4 Performance

Standards Approach• % GHG emission reduction target The higher of the following 2 approaches:

1. Achieve project GHG emission reduction > overall goal of the most recently adopted AB 32 Scoping Plan (currently ~ 30%),

Or2. Aggregate % GHG reductions from all proposed

measures applicable to the source category under evaluation

• If GHG emission reduction less than either % reduction target derived from above, GHG impacts are significant

• Other approaches?• Discussion

Agenda Items #4, #5, & #6

•Other topics?

•Closing remarks

•Other business

•Next working group meeting scheduled for 9/23/09, 10:00 a.m.