Thurston Climate Action Team: Perception Survey on Clean Energy and Climate

www.ThurstonClimateAction.org

Thurston Climate Action Team

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Perception Survey on Clean Energy and Climate Briefing for Nisqually River Council, April 15, 2016


•  Community survey conducted in June – Broad support for a variety of local renewable

energy and energy conservation efforts – Willingness to pay for them

•  Next step – Develop a county-wide clean energy program – Work with Thurston Thrives, other existing programs

Presentation Summary

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•  Survey Background •  Survey Methods •  Survey Results •  Next Steps & Actions Requested

Topics

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Climate Change: Local Effects

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•  Receding glaciers •  Lower flows •  Warmer water •  Extreme flooding •  Fewer salmon •  Other impacts…

Climate change and our rivers

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•  Founded in 2008, incorporated 2009 •  Community activists, elected officials, business

representatives •  Goals: – Address climate change (especially reducing our

local carbon footprint) – Encourage, coordinate and collaborate with others – Fill the gaps

TCAT Origins

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Background: County GHG Emissions

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Built Environment

53%

On-Road Vehicles

44%

Solid Waste 2%

Livestock 1%

Wastewater Treatment

0%


Sustainable Thurston Targets

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-

500,000

1,000,000

1,500,000

2,000,000

2,500,000

3,000,000 19

90

1992

1994

1996

1998

2000

2002

2004

2006

2008

2010

2012

2014

2016

2018

2020

2022

2024

2026

2028

2030

2032

2034

2036

2038

2040

2042

2044

2046

2048

2050

1990 2010 2011 2012 2013 2020 2035 2050

Thurston Co GHG MTCDE 2,088,477 2,761,800 2,794,499 2,711,793 2,745,430 1,566,358 1,148,662 417,695

Thurston Co GHG Metric Tons CO2 Equiv.


Reduced GHG ! Benefits

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Cleanen

ergyben

efits

Cleanenergyinvestmentsover2me

Costsavings,Jobs,Improvedhealth


•  Expand energy efficiency services (Thurston Energy)—esp. rentals

•  Promote solar installations (incentives, community solar, solar farms)

•  Build out electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure •  Expand commute trip reduction program •  Farmers’ transportation cooperative •  Incentives for efficient vehicles (e.g., EV) •  Transportation management areas •  Community education and engagement

Promising solutions

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•  Funding from Thurston County, LOTT •  Partnership among St. Martin’s, SPSCC, TESC •  Input from community agencies •  Students made calls 6/22 – 6/30 •  Results compiled, analyzed – Cross tabs, dependency analysis

Methods

Attitudinal Survey

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•  Community and environment •  Climate change •  Renewable energy and energy efficiency •  Home energy •  Information sources •  Demographics

Topics

Attitudinal Survey

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www.ThurstonClimateAction.org 13

Community and environment HowwouldyouratetheoverallqualityofcommunitylifeinThurstonCounty?TCATSurvey,ThurstonCountyResidents,July2015.(n=403)


•  Top community concerns: – Traffic – Population growth – Homelessness – Growth management

•  Top environmental issue: – Water quality

•  Climate change? Consistent with other survey responses?

Community and environment

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•  85%: People affect the climate. •  79%: Climate action is important. •  77%: Inaction will lead to serious local

problems.

Climate

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Clean Energy

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50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

450

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ent

Impr

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Motivations to take action on renewable energy and energy conservation::

Strongly Agree Agree

Neutral

Disagree

Strongly Disagree No Opinion


Clean Energy

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35% 36% 28% 32%

39% 38% 34% 31%

44% 53%

44% 41%

43% 48% 52% 53%

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

Transit Home energy

Food systems

Efficient vehicles

Solar for homes

Walking & biking

Clean energy

businesses

County wide programs

Actions that could be taken in Thurston County to promote renewable energy and energy conservation.

Strongly Agree Agree Neutral Disagree Strongly Disagree No Opinion


•  Willing to pay $10/year or more: 69%

•  Ok with small increase in sales, utility or property tax : 63%

Financing

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•  Energy efficiency will Influence next home choice 74%

Info about climate change Television 29% Web, social media 24% No info 1.4%

Other items

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•  County residents: – Feel positively about quality of community life – Are concerned about climate change, and its local

effects. – Favor county-wide, coordinated action. – Would support clean energy programs with money. – Are receptive to small tax increases.

Survey Conclusions

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•  Does this increase or decrease use of renewable energy and energy efficiency?

•  What is its impact on greenhouse gas emissions?

•  What alternatives are available?

Consider impact of decisions & projects on energy, climate

Policy opportunity

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•  Select top priority actions and projects •  Estimate costs and benefits •  Identify sustained, dedicated funding source(s)

Design clean energy program

Program opportunity

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•  To promote collaboration on public health and social services

•  To align efforts to make an even bigger difference in the health of community. residents.

Thurston Thrives

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Brings together community partners….


•  Housing •  Food •  Community Design •  Environment •  Education

•  Community resilience •  Child and Youth

Resiliency •  Economy •  Clinical/emergency care

Action Teams:

Thurston Thrives

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•  TT Coordinating Council: Formed Climate & Clean Energy work team

•  Recruited participants from various community sectors

•  Developing clean energy plan, including funding

Partner with Thurston Thrives

Path Forward

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www.ThurstonClimateAction.org 26


•  Meets third Thursday of the month, 3 pm, Thurston County Public Health building.

•  Web site: – http://www.co.thurston.wa.us/health/thrives/

climateandcleanenergy.html

•  Contacts: –  [email protected] – Chris Hawkins: [email protected]

TT Climate and Clean Energy Team

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•  Forums: Second Thursday, 7 pm, Traditions •  www.thurstonclimateaction.org •  Facebook •  Google Groups •  To volunteer: – Graeme Sackrison, Board Chair:

[email protected] –  [email protected]

Connecting with TCAT

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Government & Nonprofit

Thurston Climate Action Team: Perception Survey on Clean Energy and Climate