Remove carbon from the local energy system

Overview

There was a 26% increase in total greenhouse gas emissions in Sonoma County from 1990 to 2000. Electricity and natural gas use in the residential, commercial and industrial sectors account for 47% of the total. Emissions from both the commercial and industrial sectors grew by 36%, while emissions growth in the residential sector was in line with population growth for the county at 18%.

Greenhouse gas emissions result from the generation of electricity, and the combustion of natural gas. In California, approximately 0.73 pounds of carbon dioxide is released into the atmosphere for each kilowatt-hour of electricity consumed. When natural gas or propane is burned for heating, cooking, etc., about 12 pounds of carbon dioxide is released for each therm or gallon that is consumed.

In Sonoma County today, most of the electricity used comes from large power plants located either in California or in neighboring states. Approximately 30% of the electric power comes from natural gas fired power plants, 30% is imported and the remainder is from hydroelectric, nuclear and renewable. Of the imported power, approximately 50% comes from coal-fired plants, which emit the most greenhouse gases per kWh of any of the fuel types.

Thus, between 70% and 80% of the power delivered to Sonoma County comes from fossil fuel fired power plants. This electric power is delivered to homes and businesses using the transmission and distribution (T&D) infrastructure, also known as “the grid.” Sonoma County is in the Pacific Gas and Electric service territory. This means that PG&E owns and controls the T&D infrastructure, and for most customers, acts as an agent to purchase and resell electric power from the generators.

Strategy

There are two basic paths for removing carbon from the electricity and natural gas system: reduce demand and transition supply to non-greenhouse gas emitting energy sources. There are actions that will move us on both of these paths in Sonoma County. Demand reduction has two different areas of concern: new development and existing energy consumers. In Chapter 5:, we cover how new development can be accomplished with net zero carbon added to overall emissions. In 0, we cover how, and to what extent, existing demand can be reduced. In this chapter we will discuss the measures required to transition electricity and natural gas supply to non-carbon emitting energy sources.

Reduce Demand by Improving Efficiency

Efficiency studies generally rate efficiency measures as technical, economic, or achievable. Technical potential measures improvement from all possible energy efficiency measures, without regard to economics. Economic potential measures improvement from only those efficiency measures that have a competitive rate of return on investment. Achievable potential measures improvement based on the maximum rate of adoption that consumers are likely to deploy efficiency measures.

The ACEEE (American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy) has published a study that estimates that there is a five-year potential savings of 6% for electricity and 5.1% for natural gas through expanded energy efficiency programs. Another ACEEE study showed an achievable potential savings of 10% over 10 years for electricity and 10% for gas. In this study, technical potential savings was as high as 36% over a 20-year period. Other estimates for technical potential are up to 75% reduction in energy demand over a 50-year period.

These studies show that the most rapid and economic way to decrease demand, save money, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions due to electricity and natural gas use is to maximize energy efficiency. The challenge in Sonoma County, and elsewhere, is to maximize the rate of implementation of the most economically effective efficiency measures in all sectors. Education and the use of public funds to field energy efficiency programs are the most effective means for increasing deployment.

Replace Grid Electric Power from Fossil Fuel Fired Power Plants

There are three avenues to zero carbon grid electricity: 1) Stop importing “dirty power”; 2) Phase out fossil fuel fired power plants in California and replace with renewables; 3) Bring more renewable power online using a variety of generation technologies and distribution techniques.

Stop “Dirty Power” Imports

Power imports into California generally occur during times of peak demand. Locally, large energy consumers can use demand-shifting or "load management" strategies to lower peak demand. Making more information available about local grid conditions can help relieve bottlenecks and cut demand costs.

Phase Out Fossil Fuel Fired Power Plants

California has passed a renewable portfolio standard that requires utilities to increase by 1% per year the amount of power generated by renewables. Localities can increase the demand for renewable power by creating their own renewable portfolio standard. By forming a load aggregation entity, such as a Community Choice Aggregator (CCA), localities can negotiate their own renewable power portfolio directly with generators.

Bring More Renewable Generation Capacity Online

The electric T&D network has evolved over time into a unidirectional, radial flow system. That is, its design is optimized to support large central power plants that generate power that is transmitted and distributed over wide geographic areas. Traditionally, this has been the most cost-effective method for supplying electricity to large, diverse populations and electric loads.

Over time, cost-effective technologies have been developed for both large scale and small-scale generation of electric power from renewable sources. These technologies range from small photovoltaic systems for individual residences to large multi-megawatt wind turbines. These technologies are scalable to support different load sizes and different installation environments. The scalable capability allows generation of electric power that is cost competitive with the large centralized plants. In addition, location of the generating facility close to the load allows for more efficient delivery of electricity to the end user.

Renewable, distributed electric power generation can be more effectively utilized with the Community Choice Aggregator (CCA) entity described above. With a CCA, electricity can be bought and sold locally, as opposed to using the intermediary of the utility.

Recommendations

Generally, there are several categories of options available to localities to remove carbon from their energy use. These are:

Aggressively deploy energy efficiency measures throughout the residential, commercial, industrial and government sectors. There are many programs available through the utilities to subsidize and promote efficiency [JDE1] .
Implement demand-shaving strategies to save money and reduce peak demand.
Establish a Community Choice Aggregator (CCA), preferably including Marin County. The CCA has many benefits including:
- Control of the Public Goods Charge funds
- Ability to negotiate power contracts directly with generators including specification of Renewable Portfolio Standard
- Ability to do distribution wheeling (selling power) from generation facilities within the CCA service territory
- Ability to obtain detailed load information from the utility. This can be used to more efficiently distribute power.
Encourage the deployment of distributed generation capacity. This includes both small-scale generators, such as solar photovoltaic and combined heat and power facilities, as well as larger generators, such as solar thermal electric plants and large wind turbines.
- This can be accomplished through property tax credits and “energy easements.”
- Many renewable energy sources can be identified within the county. These resources and methods for “harvesting” them are discussed in Section XX.
Create the office of “Energy Czar” for the County. This office would act as a central organizing point for
- Managing efficiency programs,
- researching State and Federal funding opportunities,
- expediting permitting for carbon neutral development and
- administering the CCA
- Advocate state and national actions that encourage local power and transition to renewable energy on the grid.
Make county energy consumption information available to the public on a geographic neighborhood basis.
Make information available to the public regarding times of peak demand, via radio or television announcements. This will enable the public to make power management decisions.
Make real time pricing information available to the public so that decisions can be made more intelligently about when to use power.