Sustainable DubuqueCopyrighted
February 17, 2025
City of Dubuque WORK SESSION #
City Council
ITEM TITLE: 5.30 PM - Sustainable Dubuque
SUMMARY: Lotus Engineering and City Staff will provide an overview of
the City's greenhouse gas inventory, the 50% by 2030
reduction goal and what a science -based target would mean
for the city.
SUGGUESTED
DISPOSITION:
ATTACHMENTS:
1. MVM Memo
2. SD Quarterly Work Session Agenda_February 2025
3. Sustainable Dubuque Work Session_CityCouncil_PPT_FINAL_02172025
Page 14 of 797
THE CITY OF
DUBE
Masterpiece on the Mississippi
TO: The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
FROM: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
SUBJECT: Sustainable Dubuque Quarterly Work Session Agenda
DATE: February 11, 2025
Dubuque
AI WIN av
2007-2012.2013
2017*2019
Director of Sustainability Gina Bell is submitting information for the quarterly Sustainable
Dubuque Work Session scheduled for Monday, February 17, 2025, at 5.30 p.m. in the
City Council Chambers.
Sustainability staff worked with Lotus Engineering to prepare a presentation about
greenhouse gas inventories including business as usual models and science -based
targets.
The presentation will give an overview of the City's greenhouse gas inventory, the 50%
by 2030 reduction goal and what a science -based target would mean for the city.
v
Mic ael C. Van Milligen
MCVM:sv
Attachment
cc: Crenna Brumwell, City Attorney
Cori Burbach, Assistant City Manager
Gina Bell, Director of Sustainability
Page 15 of 797
THE CITF
DUjB_
E
Masterpiece on the Mississippi
TO: Michael Van Milligen, City Manager
FROM: Gina Bell, Director of Sustainability
SUBJECT: Sustainable Dubuque Quarterly Work Session Agenda
DATE: February 5, 2025
Dubuque
III-Ameft City
wacau�m:a rr;ur
1III�r
2007-2012-2013
2017*2019
The purpose of this memo is to set the agenda for the quarterly Sustainable Dubuque
Work Session scheduled for Monday, February 17, 2025, at 5.30 p.m. in the City
Council Chambers.
Sustainability staff worked with Lotus Engineering to prepare a presentation about
greenhouse gas inventories including business as usual models and science -based
targets.
The presentation will give an overview of the City's greenhouse gas inventory, the 50%
by 2030 reduction goal and what a science -based target would mean for the city.
To end, we will share options to move forward and how City Council can continue to
support our sustainability goals which make Dubuque more livable, viable and
equitable.
Thank you.
Page 16 of 797
Sustainable Dubuque
Work Session -
Greenhouse Gas
Emissions
Rachel Meier, Senior Associate
Natalie Cross, Research
Associate
LOT U S
Engineering & Sustainability
THE CITY i
DUB
a -
Masterpiece on the Mississippi
i � �
GHGs and Climate
Change
Greenhouse gases (GHGs) create a
buffer in Earth's atmosphere.
More GHGs in the atmosphere = more
heat trapped in the atmosphere.
This can lead to increased temperatures,
extreme precipitation, flash flooding,
worse air pollution, etc.
Decreasing emissions can help mediate
these environmental changes.
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industrial
processes &
product use
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Scope 1
in -boundary,
waste &
wastewater
stationary fuel
combustor
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in -boundary
transportation
ou!ZTC
ory
wastewater
Scope 2
grid-supplie:l
energy
Scope 3
transmission 8
distribution
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out -of -boundary
transportation
New Emission Sources
for 2022
Dubuque has been tracking greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions since 2003. All previous inventories
were completed by volunteers and students at the University of Northern Iowa. Dubuque measured
several emission sources from 2003 to 2018 and Lotus added new sources to the 2022 inventory.
2018 Sources
Residential electricity
Residential natural gas
Commercial and industrial (C&I)
electricity
C&I natural gas
Gasoline on -road vehicles
Diesel on -road vehicles
Landfill gas
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DUB E
New 2022 Sources
Residential propane
Residential fugitive
emissions
Residential transmission &
distribution (T&D) losses
C&I propane
C&I stationary diesel
C&I T&D losses
On -road electricity
On -Road T&D Losses
Transit
Railways
Aviation
Waterborne activity
Composted waste
Wastewater
Refrigerant leakage
Methodology Comparisons:
2018 and 2022
The IPCC's Sixth Assessment Report was used for CH4, N20, and R-134a GWPs (Dubuque
previously used the Fifth Assessment Report.)
Lotus used electricity data from Alliant Energy/Interstate Power and Light (Dubuque previously used
EPA eGRID state -level data).
For on -road transportation, Lotus used emission factor data from the EPA and VMT data from Google
BE (Dubuque previously used emission factors from ICLEI and VMT from Iowa DOT).
Lotus used waste data from Dubuque Municipal Landfill's EPA report (Dubuque previously used data
from the Dubuque Metropolitan Area Solid Waste Agency's summary report).
1i11, tt\,4 - -_
DUB E
Emissions by Sector:
2018 and 2022
9% decrease
in emissions
between 2018
and 2022
„DuB E 819,408 Mt CO2e 744,112 Mt CO2e
Emissions by
Source: 2022
Notable Trends:
The largest emission sources are
natural gas (32%), electricity
(31%), and on -road fossil fuels
(29%).
Solid waste makes up 2% of total
emissions.
All other emission sources make
up 5% of total emissions.
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Dubuque, IA
Iowa City, IA
La Crosse, WI
Rochester, MN
Des Moines, IA
Winona, MN
;19 ILA I its
Inventory
Total
Number of
Emissions
Emissions
Year
Emissions
Population
Households
per Capita
per
Household
2022
7441112
58,873
24,850
13
30
2021
787,993
74,582
30,720
11
16
2020
667,101
517543
217239
13
31
2020
1,265,047
1175134
48,468
11
26
2019
2,622,472
2145200
91,045
12
29
2019
2601000
267854
107509
10
26
Emissions Over Time: Comparable Sources
Notable Trends:
Building energy
usage emissions
decreased between
2018 and 2022.
On -road vehicle
emissions
increased.
The landfill began
capturing landfill
gas, decreasing its
emissions 75%.
DUB F
7ins Over Time! A11 Emissaen Se
Increase ■ Decrease ■ Total
1,200,000
34% decrease
1,100,000 ■
in emissions
■
since 2003
1,000,000
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U
■
900,000
c
0
N
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w
800,000
■
700,000
600,000
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Science -Based Target
i
Dubuque's science -based
emissions reduction target is
62.4% by 2030.
Lotus used the One Planet City Challenge's
(OPCC) approach to calculate Dubuque's
science -based target.
This approach uses the following data points:
US Human Development Index Score
(HDI)
Population projections for Dubuque
Baseline year (2018) scope 1 and 2
emissions totals
Baseline year (2018) community
population
Rnce-Based Taraet contNe
5-Year Summary
Absolute Emissions
Target (mt CO2e)
Emissions
Reduction Target %
2018
2022
2030
2035
2040
2045
2050
819,408
734531
—308, 000
—231, 000
—154, 000
—77, 000
0
N/A
-10%
-62%
-72%
-81 %
-91 %
-100%
n ce- iia ser
Sector -based %
Reduction
Stationary Energy
Transportation
Waste and
Wastewater
IPPU (Refrigerants)
:Iold [:4=0101IIas
2022 2030 2035 2040 2045 2050
-18%
-65%
-73%
-82%
-91 %
-100%
34%
-49%
-62%
-75%
-87%
-100%
-72%
-86%
-89%
-92%
-95%
-100%
N/A
-51 %
-60%
-71 %
-83%
-100%
aM�usiness1
800,000
744,112
700,000
600,000
a)
CV
0
U
500,000
N
C
O
400,000
E
w
O
x
C9 300,000
200,000
100,000
0
657,424
2022 2024 2026 2028 2030
Electricity Emissions
Natural Gas Fugitive Emissions
Total On -Road Gasoline, Diesel, and Ethanol Emissions
Waterborne Emissions
MTransit Ethanol Emissions
Local Aviation Emissions
Compost Emissions
Residential Refrigerant Loss Emissions
•Is
2032 2034 2036 2038
oL Transmission and Distribution Losses
Propane Emissions
=Electric Vehicle Emissions
Transit Biodiesel Emissions
=Transit Gasohol Emissions
Itinerant Aviation Emissions
Wastewater Emissions
—Total Emissions
2022 to 2030:12% decrease
2022 to 2050: 38% decrease
457,648
2040 2042 2044 2046 2048
=Natural Gas Emissions
=Stationary Diesel Emissions
Electric Vehicle Emissions (T&D)
Transit Diesel Emissions
Railway Emissions
=Landfilled Waste Emissions
=Commercial Refrigerant Loss Emissions
2050
Business -As -Usual Model cont'd.
Overall, emissions are expected to decrease 38% between 2022 and 2050. The
following emission sources are projected to either increase or decrease.
Increase
Natural gas
Fugitive emissions from natural gas
Railway activity
Waste
Wastewater
Refrigerants
*"rease/Switch
Electricity
T&D losses from
electricity
Fossil fuel vehicles
Electric vehicles
What Can Dubuque
Do?
Inform and educate Dubuque residents. Community
outreach!
Reduce natural gas and fossil fuel emissions
through electrification, energy efficiency, and EV
adoption strategies.
Lead by example. Implement climate actions as a
municipality.
1. Electrify city buildings, city fleet, and transit vehicles.
2. Increase waste diversion at city facilities.
Use city funds to incentivize adoption of stricter
building codes.
Continue the Sustainable Dubuque Community
Grants program and youth climate action grants.
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40M
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Success in Other Municipalities
Rebates for E-bike Single hauler Expand
electric bikes sharing waste compost
and vehicles programs ordinances hauling
services
• • 00
Sustainable
building
codes
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Afastrr<sri" on the .Mississippi
Educate
about co -
benefits of
natural areas
Incentives for
energy
efficiency
and
electrification
Looking Forward
Long-term financial benefits:
• Social cost of carbon.
• Potential natural disasters.
• Utility and maintenance cost savings.
• Resilience building for
disproportionately -impacted
communities.
Think past 2030:
• SBTs go to 2050.
• Invest in climate -friendly infrastructure
and public transit.
• Focus on bite -sized pieces that add up
over time.
• Continue outreach & education.
• Long-term, sustainable funding source.
DUB-VidETF
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LOTUS rachel@lotussustainability.com
Engineering & Sustainability natalie@lotussustainabiIity.com
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