Palo Alto Green Energy Presentation

Enough green energy to power 1,400 homes.

Reduces greenhouse gases by 20,000 tons/year.

Saves Palo Alto $1,000,000 per year.

Energy available during power outages.

Palo Alto’s Dump Will Close Soon

Our Composting Operation would Cease

Palo Alto’s yard waste would get trucked to Gilroy,generating 1,200 tons of carbon dioxide per year.

The Z-Best Composting Facility near Gilroy is 53 miles from Palo Alto.

Further than:• Santa Cruz• San Francisco• Marin Headlands• Walnut Creek• Martinez• Tracy

Local Threats from Climate Change

• Bay Rise/Flooding

• Water/Food Shortages

• Wildfire Hazards

Palo Alto Should Be Concerned about Climate Change

Without levee improvements, much of Palo Alto would be under-water in the not-too-distant future.

The First Rule for Getting Outof a Hole is to Stop Digging

Palo Alto’s Climate Protection Efforts

Climate Protection Plan• 15% CO2 reduction by 2020

• 33% renewable energy by 2015

• Community Environmental Action Partnership (CEAP)

Zero Waste Initiative• 73% diversion by 2011

• 90% diversion by 2021

Green Building Ordinance• LEED Silver for commercial

• 70 Build it Green (BIG) points for residential

Palo Alto Established a Blue RibbonTask Force on Composting

The BRTF recommended anaerobic digestion, a process using microorganisms in enclosed vessels to break down organic waste into methane and compost.

Three Sources of Organic WasteThree Sources of Organic Waste

60,000 Tons Per Year

Composition of Disposed Organics

Each Year Palo Alto’s Organics could Fill Each Year Palo Alto’s Organics could Fill a Football Field the Height of City Halla Football Field the Height of City Hall

130,000 Cubic Yards

Palo Alto Has One of Only Two Sewage Sludge Incinerators in CA

Palo Alto Has One of Only Two Sewage Sludge Incinerators in CA

Impacts

• 6,000 tons of CO2 produced per year.

• $800,000 worth of energy used in 2009.

• $234,000 paid to dispose of waste ash.

Yard & Food

Biosolids

Generator

13,500 tonsgarden & farmcompost

5,600 tonscommercialcompost

21,000 tons Yard Trimmings & up to 22,000 tons Food & Compostables

16,000 tonsWastewaterBiosolids

Methane

Green electricityfor 1,400 homes

Usable heatFor wastewater processes

Anaerobic Digestion Waste Transformation

AD could reduce our greenhouse gases by 20,000 tons/year

The Potential for Anaerobic DigestionThe Potential for Anaerobic Digestion 60,000 Tons of Waste Processed• Yard trimmings• Food scraps• Sewage sludge• Non-recyclable paper

20,000 Tons of Greenhouse Gas Reductions• Eliminates sewage sludge incineration• Converts waste to renewable energy• Reduces landfill methane• Eliminates waste hauling

Savings & Revenue• $1.4 million/year in green energy • $800,000 energy from incineration• $234,000 from eliminating waste ash• $200,000 from compost sales• $1 million in tipping fees• Carbon dioxide offsets

60,000 Tons of Waste Processed• Yard trimmings• Food scraps• Sewage sludge• Non-recyclable paper

20,000 Tons of Greenhouse Gas Reductions• Eliminates sewage sludge incineration• Converts waste to renewable energy• Reduces landfill methane• Eliminates waste hauling

Savings & Revenue• $1.4 million/year in green energy • $800,000 energy from incineration• $234,000 from eliminating waste ash• $200,000 from compost sales• $1 million in tipping fees• Carbon dioxide offsets

Anaerobic DigestionWould Save Palo Alto Money

Expense/Revenue Item Offsite AD

Initial Capital Cost 0 $13.75 mil.

Annualized Capital Cost 0 $19.64/ton

Estimated Operating Cost $41/ton $38.22/ton

Revenues - Product Sale 0 -$8.33/ton

Revenues - Electricity Sales 0 -$21.04/ton

Revenues - Other Sales (CO2) 0 -$1.55/ton

Total Net Cost Per Ton $41 $26.94

Possible Funding Sources

Refuse Fund Calaveras Fund PaloAltoGreen Government grants Venture capital Public/private partnership

The Site would be at the LandfillNext to the Wastewater Treatment Plant

The Facility Would Require Undedication of10 Acres (8%) of the 126-Acre Byxbee Park

An Equal Amount of Parkland could be Dedicated Elsewhere in Palo Alto

Former Los Altos Water Treatment Plant site

Savings from an AD Facility could Help Maintain our World-Class Parks

Foothills Park

Or Complete 92% of Byxbee Park(no funds currently exist)

To Qualify the Initiative for the November Ballot we Must Collect 4,356 Valid Signatures

Pros of Initiative ConsKeeps Palo Alto’s composting operation and distribution local.

Enables Palo Alto to compost food waste.

Allows Palo Alto to retire its sewage sludge incinerator.

Generates enough green energy to power 1,400 homes.

Energy will be available during emergency blackouts.

Reduces citywide greenhouse gas emissions by 20,000 tons per year.

Saves the City $1,000,000 per year.

Revenues could be used to complete 92% of Byxbee Park (no funds currently exist).

Provides an excellent educational opportunity for school groups and others.

Serves as a model for other communities, reinforcing Palo Alto’s status as an environmental leader.

Byxbee Park would be slightly smaller.