NYWEA Climate Change for Municipalities
Preview:
DESCRIPTION
Climate change and effects on municipalities and POTWs
Citation preview
- 1. Climate Change & Water/Wastewater Operations Marc
Karell, P.E. Climate Change & Environmental Services, LLC NYWEA
2009 Spring Technical Conference & Exhibition West Point, NY
June 2, 2009
- 2. Goals: Background and Why is This Important Understand the
basics of climate change and greenhouse gases (GHGs). Learn how
POTWs and water plants can take advantage of the new realities and
develop an economically and socially beneficial carbon management
program.
- 3. Is Climate Change for Real? Part 1: Global Warming Is
Happening Avg. global temp. 1.10F in past century. Real, and larger
than that seen in any century. Another 40F rise in next 35 years?
If continued, there will be long-term effects on: our climate,
water supply, diseases, agricultural, tourist, insurance & oil
markets. Our economy and way of life Together these effects are
called: Climate Change
- 4. The Arctic is Melting
- 5. Potential Climate Change Effect Impacts
- 6. Is Climate Change for Real? Part 2: Causes of Climate Change
Certain compounds in our atmosphere trap heat, called greenhouse
gases or GHGs. From natural & man-made sources. CO2 levels have
risen by nearly 40% since industrial revolution Global temp. rise
correlates with activities Large majority of scientists in field
believe that man-made emissions contributes significantly to
climate change.
- 7. From the Pew Center on Global Climate Change
- 8. Common GHGs GHG GWP Common POTW Sources CO2 1 Digester gas,
combustion CH4 25 Influent, anaerobic digesters N2O 298
Nitrification HFCs wide range Refrigeration gases PFCs wide range
SF6 22,800
- 9. Climate Change: Public Perception 94% of respondents said
the U.S. should take actions to limit its GHG emissions, at least
as much as other developed countries do on average. 73% said the
U.S. should participate in Kyoto, up from 64% in 2002. Source: 2005
U.S. Ford Foundation-funded poll
- 10. Global Attempt to Address Issue: Reduce GHG Emissions
Because effect is global, action must be global. To reverse
effects: achieve global GHG reductions Many nations under the
auspices of the United Nations met in 1997 in Kyoto, Japan Agreed
to reduce global GHG emissions in 2008-12 by 5.2% relative to 1990
Kyoto Protocol
- 11. Kyoto Protocol Philosophy Affected industries are those
highest in fuel use: power, cement, glass, steel, paper Different
limits for different nations Developed vs. Developing nations
Progress wherever reductions occur, even far away Market-based. Cap
and trade. Affected facilities have a limit, but may exceed it if
they obtain credits from another. $ invested in GHG reductions can
be made back by sale of credits. GHG credits as money making
currency
- 12. Where Things Stand in the U.S. The Kyoto Protocol was not
approved in the US. Obama Administration and new Congress promised
aggressive federal GHG emission reduction rules Some states
currently developing their own rules There are additional economic
drivers that make a GHG reduction program beneficial
- 13. U.S. GHG Programs Current/future regulations Northeast RGGI
trading program California AB-32 and Western Climate Initiative
Voluntary programs USEPA Climate Leaders USDOE 1605b Chicago
Climate Exchange The Climate Registry
- 14. RGGI Regulation - Here in NY Market-based CO2 trading
program involving power plants with units 25 MW: 10 NE states.
Affected states must meet total CO2 emissions equal to an early
2000s baseline emissions this year and a 10% reduction by 2019.
Virtually all allowances will be auctioned. Thus, power plants must
pay to emit CO2.
- 15. New Proposed Federal GHG Reporting Rule! Applicable to any
facility that emits >25,000 metric tons of CO2e/yr or facility
in any of 20 source categories, which includes industrial
wastewater treatment plants! Must report 2010 emissions of GHGs by
March 31, 2011 using accepted methods Will be 40 CFR Part 98 April
10, 2009 Fed. Register Can still comment up until June 9
- 16. What an Industrial WWTP Must Report Annual CH4 emissions
from anaerobic wastewater treatment processes Annual CO2, CH4, and
N2O emissions from stationary combustion devices and flares.
- 17. Why Develop a Climate Change (CC) Program? Many Business
(Non-regulatory) Reasons 1. $$$. The growing cost of energy Actions
that reduce energy usage reduce GHGs Given the price of energy
these days, much $$$ will be saved! Example. DuPont claims they
invested $120 million in CC (energy efficiency) programs in the
1990s and as a result has saved over $3 billion in avoided energy
costs
- 18. Why Develop a Climate Change (CC) Program? Many Business
(Non-regulatory) Reasons 2. $$$. GHG emission reductions achieved
and verified can become sellable credits, even in the US (the
voluntary market). Example. Blue Heron Paper Co. (OR) improved
energy efficiency by 25% (191,000 metric tons GHGs/yr). Financial
incentives, tax credits for project and a pledge to buy all
verified GHG emission reduction credits.
- 19. Why Develop a Climate Change (CC) Program? Many Business
(Non-regulatory) Reasons 3. Pressure from financial market,
insurance, accounting, governmental bodies Example. The Equator
Principles gives financial institutions social and environmental
benchmarks (including CC) to finance a project Insurance companies
are terrified about their costs of rising sea levels
- 20. Why Develop a Climate Change (CC) Program? Many Business
(Non-regulatory) Reasons 4. CC risk Usually, we are concerned with
how a plant impacts the environment. For the first time, we are
worried about how the environment will impact plant operations!
These may directly affect WWTP operations: Flooding Hot weather
Illness, lost productivity More extreme rainfalls, changes in
snowmelt patterns would result in greater short-term flows and
challenge capacity design. POTW operators are beginning to study
this Climate Change Adaptation
- 21. Physical Effects Now!
- 22. Why Develop a Climate Change (CC) Program? Many Business
(Non-regulatory) Reasons 5. Public relations Just say Climate
Change to Toyota and GE! Further the climate change/sustainability
goals of a municipality (NYC 2030) 6. Pleasing customers. Firms ask
about the carbon footprint of products. Life Cycle Analysis (LCA)
Major retailers Wal-Mart, Tesco now request suppliers provide GHG
information throughout product life cycle. Example. CA entrepreneur
performed LCA to compare proposed sludge treatment to form
alternative fuel with conventional sludge treatment and endpoint
(land application, on-site combustion, etc.)
- 23. GHG Emissions Along Product Life Cycle New Sales and Supply
Production/ Recycling/ Investment/ Distribution Consumer Chain
Operation End of Life Design End Use Green Building Emissions
related Emissions related raw / input materials Emissions related
to to energy demand to energy demand raw / input materials
Emissions related to of processes at end user filling facility
processing related /to Emissions of raw Emissions due to input
materialsraw / processing of storage, cooling usage input materials
Transport emissions Transport emissions Transport Transport
emissions emissions Emissions related to energy demand for waste
disposal recycling
- 24. Climate Change Opportunities for POTWs Actions to reduce
GHG emissions will lead to direct cost savings Show progress to
stakeholders and the public; positive social profile Understand the
physical, operational risks that Climate Change represent Can
Climate Change be an opportunity? (Hint, ask Toyota or GE)
- 25. Summary: Why Should a Municipality Invest in Carbon
Management? Reduce exposure to future rules, carbon trading Direct
economic benefits of GHG reductions Carbon management should be
part of overall planning effects of future changes Integrate GHG
metrics into EH&S reporting Respond to stakeholders, do the
right thing Carbon management as VALUE, not LIABILITY, as pollution
is normally considered.
- 26. Climate Change & Environmental Services, LLC Nearly 25
years of experience in diverse climate change and air quality
services: GHG emission inventories Strategies to achieve cost
saving, beneficial reductions Energy and green building assessments
LCAs Emission inventories (criteria and toxics) Air compliance
audits Permitting for maximum operational
- 27. With regard to excellence, it is not enough to know, but we
must try to have and use it. - Aristotle 384-322 BC
- 28. Thank you. Questions? Marc Karell, P.E. Climate Change
& Environmental Services, LLC www.ccesworld.com 914-584-6720
climatechangeenv@gmail.com