Sustainability and Energy Action Plan

APPENDIX IV: METHODOLOGY GRANTS PASS SUSTAINABILITY AND ENERGY ACTION PLAN METHODOLOGY The Taskforce has made a concerted effort to make all information/data provided as accurate and useful as possible. What follows is a list of all assumptions, adjustments and methods that went into the generation of Taskforce data – whether a calculation of current or past numbers, or a projection of future ones. POPULATION ASSUMPTIONS Grants Pass population in 2021 was 39,364. Grants Pass population will grow above the 2021 base by the following percentages (determined using the Portland State University Population Research Center 2022 study growth projection for the Grants Pass Urban Growth Boundary, prorated for the portion within the City itself): 2030: 10.9% 2035: 17.6% 2040: 24.7% 2045: 32.2% EMISSIONS FROM ENERGY USAGE AND FUEL CONSUMPTION Emissions in Metric Tons of Carbon Dioxide Equivalent ( MTCO2e) were estimated for consumption of electricity, natural gas, gasoline, and diesel fuel for the base year 2021 using utility bills and the formulas specified in the Local Government Operations Protocol ( LGOP ) Version 1.1 (May 2010) adopted by the EPA. Use of electricity, natural gas, gasoline, and diesel fuel were assumed to be constant through 2045. The exception is that electricity usage for the Water Treatment Plant is assumed to increase by 20% starting in 2030 due to the new water filtration methods applied in the new treatment plant. Emissions per unit of energy were determined using the guidelines provided in the Local Government Operations Protocol ( LGOP ), using values from the latest available regionally applicable sources. Electricity: 638.523 pounds of carbon dioxide equivalent per megawatt hour Natural Gas: 0.05486 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent per 1,000 cubic feet Gasoline: 8.78 kilograms of carbon dioxide equivalent per gallon Diesel: 10.21 kilograms of carbon dioxide equivalent per gallon Electricity consumed by unmetered streetlights owned and operated by Pacific Power but paid for by Grants Pass under agreement is not included in this Plan. These streetlights have already been largely converted to low power LED lights and there are no reasonable changes envisioned for the way in which these lights are operated. Emissions for electricity obtained from the Pacific Power grid are assumed to be reduced in a manner consistent with the established Oregon Department of Environmental Quality’s adopted regulations and confirmed by Pacific Power's published Resource Plan. These reductions are: 2030: 80% 2035: 85% 2040: 90% 2045: 100% 139