Focus
California regulators get serious about building decarbonization
■Greentech Media - February 15
For decades, California has led the world in efforts to reduce the energy consumption of appliances and buildings. But California policymakers have started to favor a new guiding metric: carbon. In January 2018, then-Governor Jerry Brown signed an executive order calling for at least 5 million zero-emission vehicles to be on California roads by 2030. In September of the same year, Brown signed SB 100, which called for 100 percent zero-carbon electricity in California by 2045. Last month, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) launched a proceeding devoted to decarbonizing buildings. The new proceeding has four goals: implement SB 1477, a bill signed by Governor Brown last September that requires the CPUC to oversee two new low-carbon heating programs; investigate potential pilot programs to build all-electric, zero-carbon buildings in areas damaged by wildfires; coordinate with the California Energy Commission on updates to the state’s building (Title 24) and appliance (Title 20) energy efficiency standards; and establish a building decarbonization policy framework. But the real breakthrough is the money — $200 million over four years — authorized under the bill to be invested in programs to advance low-carbon space and water heating technologies in both new and existing buildings.
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News
Why does California waste so much of its rainwater?
■Los Angeles Times - February 20
California’s wet winter has dumped an estimated 18 trillion gallons of rain in February alone. But the vast majority of rainwater in urban areas flows into storm drains and is eventually lost to the Pacific Ocean. In 2012, Los Angeles leaders passed an ordinance that requires most new developments to collect urban runoff from three-quarters of an inch of rainfall and reuse it on site or let it percolate into the ground. The Los Angeles County Department of Public Works said it was able to capture about 22 billion gallons of water since October 1, which officials said shows steady progress. Experts, however, say there is much room for improvement. In its latest study in 2014, the Pacific Institute estimated that stormwater capture in Southern California and the Bay Area has the potential to increase the state's water supply by at least 420,000 acre-feet annually.
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Amazon aims to cut shipment carbon footprint in half by 2030
■The Hill - February 18
Amazon is making a push to halve the carbon footprint of its shipments by 2030. The new program, titled “Shipment Zero,” ultimately aims to make all of the retailer's shipments have a carbon footprint of zero. The company says it plans to meet its 2030 goal by utilizing electric vans, using renewable energy sources such as solar power and pushing more retailers to reuse packaging. It also hopes the rise of aircraft biofuels will aid in its plan.
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DOE proposal to change how it sets efficiency standards creates new hurdles, advocates say
■Utility Dive - February 19
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) last week issued a notice of proposed rulemaking that efficiency advocates say will slow down the process of developing energy efficiency standards and potentially leave significant savings unrealized. DOE's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy is proposing changes to the "Process Rule" that the agency says would clarify its purpose and "revise language in certain provisions" to make it consistent with the Energy Policy and Conservation Act of 1975. Efficiency advocates say the changes propose an "arbitrary threshold" of energy savings that new or updated standards must meet, while other changes would make developing those standards more difficult.
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The Home Depot plans more solar and wind investments
■Solar Industry Magazine - February 14
The Home Depot has announced new investments in wind and solar for 2019. First, the company will purchase enough wind energy from the Pretty Prairie Wind Project in Kansas to power about 40 stores for a year. For solar, The Home Depot plans to expand its residential rooftop initiatives but has not revealed specific plans. Forty-five U.S. Home Depot stores currently have operational rooftop solar systems, and the company also procures energy from solar farms in Delaware, Massachusetts, and Minnesota with a combined annual output of 25 million kilowatt-hours. The Home Depot is aiming for a 40 percent reduction in carbon emissions by 2030 and a 50 percent reduction by 2035.
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L.A. Ethics Commission backs new restrictions on developer donations
■Los Angeles Times - February 18
Faced with persistent complaints about a “pay-to-play” culture at Los Angeles City Hall, the City Ethics Commission backed new restrictions Tuesday on political donations from real estate developers seeking city approval for their building plans. The proposed ban would cover a broad array of people “substantially involved” in a proposed development project, including real estate executives, architects, engineers, and others. Such donors would also be barred from fundraising or gathering political donations for city officials. The proposals now head to the City Council for consideration.
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