Hello! Glad to be back in action with all of you this evening

Evening! Happy Fall!

https://twitter.com/MeghanNutting/status/1444730642424471555

https://twitter.com/MeghanNutting/status/1444730642424471555

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/09/02/climate/new-york-rain-floods-climate-change.html

https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/us-will-dramatically-cut-climate-damaging-greenhouse-gases-new-program-aimed-chemicals

https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/us-will-dramatically-cut-climate-damaging-greenhouse-gases-new-program-aimed-chemicals

Arup LA Decarbonization Report: https://www.arup.com/perspectives/publications/research/section/zero-carbon-collaboration-the-case-for-los-angeles

Tysons Reporter - UN Report and local action https://www.tysonsreporter.com/2021/08/19/fairfax-county-moves-to-implement-climate-action-plan-as-u-n-shares-dire-outlook/

Thanks for adding to the chat! I will add to the meeting summary.

Thanks all!

Welcome Amanda!

Agreed - thank you staff and team for enabling this to be a fully virtual meeting!

welcome Amanda!

What better month to recognize the importance of reducing vampire loads?

#HireMoreAlxClimateStaff

Loudoun County is starting the update of its Energy Strategy/Climate Plan. They also will soon release an analysis of Community Choice Aggregation that might be useful to Alexandria.

Last Tuesday, DC held a Clean Energy Summit which highlighted how far DC has progressed in meeting their climate action goals. One highlight was the fact that there are now more solar panels on roofs in the low and middle income wards than in the high income wards. With DC equity rocks! Video of the summit will be available soon.

Marian and Mary - I made you co-hosts. Can you see the hands raised?

Yes. I can see the hands raised.

ditto

Alexandria’s inventory methodology doesn’t include a substantial portion of U.S. national emissions, so our reported emissions are already lower than they really are.

I am not seing raised hands now

OK, I just re-set your permissions.

Is this still MWCOG or Alex?

We also need to consider if local actions can be taken to bend the grid decarbonization curve lower faster. We should not assume this is solely a state action under the Virginia Clean Economy Act.

Are there percentages for each category or are we just eyeballing the numbers by 2030?

The example recommendations in the Excel Doc from Sasha Impasto are the type of programs/policies I'm excited for Alx to consider to address these decarbonization goals. Hopefully the consultant that Alx brings on can evaluate those for local implementation feasibility, impact, cost, etc

Thank you! yes!

One recommendation I was planning to make was to have the City start enforcing the state-level anti-idling law. In DC, this is done by inspectors at the Dept of Energy and Enviro and could be enforced by the police (although they seldom enforce this). There also may be an opportunity to partner with the Clean Air Partners to do some driver education.

Dillion rule does not prevent the City from trading something it wants like affordable housing in return for what the developer wants which might be higher density or greater height than the zoning allows.

I wonder if there are Zoning opportunities to achieve Green/Decarb goals that circumvent the Dillon Rule restrictions as well

Bill Pugh's article/blog is at https://ggwash.org/view/82605/the-region-cant-meet-its-climate-change-commitments-without-reducing-car-dependence-a-study-reveals

Thanks Mary for decoding acronyms to help make the discussion more accessible!

Thank you for adding that note Stephen. I do believe these actions are a little light for our LMI communities

Sorry for my dive down the acronym hole…

One incentive in Alexandria for tree planting is the one-time reduction in the stormwater fee for planting trees on a site

Great co-benefits for adaptation/resilience with Tree Canopy, Open Space, and Green Roofs as well

There's a great 10-minute-walk campaign that encourages improving access to parks and green spaces! Great analysis to share Ellen https://10minutewalk.org/

Should be incentive to keep existing trees. Too many fine, old, healthy big trees being cut in the far west end of ALX. Not for development , just lack of understanding of benefit of old trees.

This is GREAT to see Ellen. Arlandria could use a close look.

What a valuable map! Highlights the equity issues at play too when it comes to green space.

Thanks Stephen for emphasizing the importance of reducing embodied carbon in our city, even if its not currently counted in our operational decarb goals

Unfortunately I have to leave this meeting early for a work call, thank you for a great discussion and I'll follow up afterwards for notes!

More power to you Ellen on the purchasing!

Have a wonderful evening, Marta!

Thanks Marta!

Recommendation on the actions (from prior agenda topic): Focus focus focus. Spend 80% of staff time and effort on the pivotal actions. Prioritize those for attention of Council/legislative delegation. Grid decarbonization, household EV adoption, existing building electrification. (pivotal = those without which we will not meet the goals based on page 10 chart)

I am willing to volunteer as a roundtable facilitator

#HireMoreAlxClimateStaff

Highest leverage personal actions aren’t measured in kWh or pounds of CO2, they are in voting, organizing, and advocating.

kWh metrics don't translate for the average person. I think as a task force we should attempt to identify actions that might be recognizable. Also, what behavior change actions are transferable for none homeowners/renters so that this might feel more inclusive.

Idea for a speaker or facilitator: Someone in Dominion’s local community relations team or state legislative policy team…

(they are heavily staffed)

non-homeowners* oops.

I'd be happy to volunteer if a non-taskforce member can self-nominate.

perhaps the largest commercial mutifamily Bldg/property owners in ALX - Carr Companies

Thank you Don, noted!

Recommendation: On grid decarbonization, get more specific than "Support Aggressive Renewable Portfolio Standards". Have a 2030 RPS number that can go into the City's legislative package this fall for the upcoming 2022 session.

Jessica, I can be reached at donb12345@gmail.com.

I would add a thank you to the Chairs and staff for today's material and meeting.

Thank you so much Don

Fiona, thank you so much.

Thank you all for an informative meeting!

Thank you all!

Thanks everyone! See you soon