HomeMy WebLinkAboutRESO 99306055443
Resolution No. 9930
Resolution of the Council of the City of Palo Alto
Amending the Carbon Neutral Natural Gas Plan to
Continue to Achieve Carbon Neutrality for the City’s
Natural Gas Supply Portfolio
R E C I T A L S
A. In December 2007, Council adopted the City’s Climate Protection Plan which set
aggressive greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction goals to be achieved by the year 2020.
B. In March 2013, Council approved Resolution 9322 directing staff to achieve
carbon neutrality for the electric supply portfolio by 2013 through the use of a combination of
hydroelectric resources, long-term renewable resources and short-term renewable energy
resources and/or renewable energy certificates (“RECs”).
C. On September 9, 2013, Council approved Resolution 9372 modifying and
suspending portions of the PaloAltoGreen Program and directed staff to develop a
PaloAltoGreen Gas (PAG Gas Program) Program.
D. On April 21, 2014, Council approved Resolution 9405 establishing the voluntary
PAG Gas Program to provide the opportunity for residential and commercial customers to
economically reduce or eliminate the impact of GHG emissions associated with their gas usage
through the purchase of certified environmental offsets.
E. In April 2016, Council adopted a GHG reduction goal of 80% by the year 2030.
GHG emissions associated with natural gas used by City of Palo Alto Utilities customers were
135,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent, or 27% of the City’s GHG emissions, in 2015.
F. Staff initially proposed a Carbon Neutral Natural Gas Plan that would use a
combination of physical biogas and high-quality environmental offsets to achieve a carbon-
neutral gas portfolio by fiscal year 2018 by maximizing the amount of biogas in the portfolio
while holding the rate impact at a maximum limit of ten cents per therm (10 ₵/therm).
G. On August 31, 2016, the Utilities Advisory Commission voted 6-1 to recommend
Council approve a Carbon Neutral Gas Plan using a combination of physical biogas and high-
quality environmental offsets to achieve a carbon-neutral gas portfolio and direct staff terminate
the PAG Gas Program.
H. On October 18, 2016, the Finance Committee voted 2-1 to instead recommend
that Council:
I.
(i) Adopt a resolution that (a) approves a Carbon Neutral Natural Gas Plan that
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would enable the City to achieve a carbon-neutral gas supply portfolio starting in Fiscal Year
(FY) 2018 with a rate impact not to exceed ten cents per therm (10 ¢/therm); and (b)
terminate the PAG Gas Program established by Resolution 9405; and
(ii) Direct staff to: (a) develop an implementation plan for the Carbon Neutral
Natural Gas Plan; (b) provide an option for Council to consider prioritizing local offsets; and
(c) prioritize maximizing carbon reduction within the 10 ₵/therm rate impact cap.
J. On December 5, 2016, Council adopted Resolution 9649 approving a carbon
neutral gas plan starting in fiscal year 2018 with a rate impact not to exceed ten cents per
therm (10 ₵/therm) and terminated the PAG Gas program established by Resolution 9405.
K. On October 7, 2020, the Utilities Advisory Commission voted 7-0 to recommend
Council approve the amended Carbon Neutral Gas Plan as outlined in Exhibit A.
The Council of the City of Palo Alto RESOLVES as follows:
SECTION 1. The Council hereby adopts a resolution:
1. Approving an amended Carbon Neutral Natural Gas Plan, as shown in
Exhibit A, enabling the City to maintain a carbon-neutral gas supply portfolio.
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SECTION 2. The Council’s adoption of this Resolution, which amends the Carbon
Neutral Natural Gas Plan, does not meet the definition of a project, pursuant to section
21065 of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). Offset project developers will be
responsible for acquiring necessary environmental reviews and permits as those projects are
developed.
INTRODUCED AND PASSED: December 7, 2020
PASSED: DUBOIS, FILSETH, FINE, KNISS, KOU, TANAKA
NOES:
ABSENT: CORMACK
ABSTENTIONS:
ATTEST:
City Clerk Mayor
APPROVED AS TO FORM: APPROVED:
Assistant City Attorney City Manager
Director of Utilities
Director of Administrative Services
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Exhibit A
CITY OF PALO ALTO CARBON NEUTRAL GAS PLAN
EXHIBIT A TO RESOLUTION NO. 9930
ADOPTED BY COUNCIL ON: December 7, 2020
RECOMMENDED FOR APPROVAL BY UTILITIES ADVISORY COMMISSION ON: Oct. 7, 2020
Carbon Neutral Gas Plan Objective:
Originally adopted by the City Council on December 5, 20161, the objective of the City's Carbon
Neutral Gas Plan is to mitigate the GHG emissions resulting from natural gas use in the City of
Palo Alto through the purchase of high-quality carbon offsets as a bridging strategy toward
absolute reductions in natural gas use. Implementation of the Carbon Neutral Gas Plan will be
carried out by staff.
Carbon Neutral Gas Plan Elements:
1.The quantity of offsets purchased to meet the City’s Carbon Neutral Plan objectives will
be matched to carbon emissions associated with the City’s natural gas sales volume;
2.Offset purchases must be from project types which adhere to California Air Resource
Board (CARB)-approved cap and trade compliance protocols, currently including U.S.
Forest, U.S. Urban Forest, U.S. Livestock, U.S. Sourced and Destroyed Ozone Depleting
Substances, U.S Mine Methane Capture, and U.S. Rice Cultivation; or any other project
type subsequently approved by CARB;
3.Offset purchases are restricted to CARB’s vintage requirements, which currently permit
offsets generated in 2006 or later;
4.Offset transactions are limited to spot purchases, which are for offsets that have already
been created, verified, and are ready to be sold;
5.Rate impacts of individual offset transactions are limited to under $19 per ton of CO2e.
This is consistent with the Council-approved maximum rate impact of 10₵/therm.
6.In implementing the Carbon Neutral Gas Plan, staff will maintain a preference for
California projects as long as this preference does not result in a price premium.
1 Staff report 7533.
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