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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2023-04-20 - Climate Change and Environment Committee Agenda Climate Change and Environment Committee Agenda Thursday April 20, 2023 Kitchener City Hall 4:00p.m. -6:00p.m. 200 King St.W. th Kitchener ON N2G 4G7 City Hall, 5Floor, Adams-Seymour Room A & B Page 1 Chair –Brooklin Wallis Vice-Chair –Morgan Garner Commencement The meeting will begin with a Land Acknowledgement given by the Chair. The City of Kitchener is situated on the traditional territory of the Neutral, Anishinaabeg and Haudenosaunee Peoples. We recognize our responsibility to serve as stewards for the land and honour the original caretakers who came before us. Our community is enriched by the enduring knowledge and deep-rooted traditions of the diverse First Nations, Metis and Inuit in Kitchener today. Disclosure of Pecuniary Interest and the General Nature Thereof Members of Council and members of the City’s citizen advisory committees are required to file a written statement when they have a conflict of interest. If a conflict is declared, pleasevisitwww.kitchener.ca/conflictto submit your written form. Delegations Pursuant to Council’s Procedural By-law, delegations are permitted to address the Committee for a maximum of 5 minutes. Item 2 – Angela Olano, Communications and Community Engagement, Region of Waterloo Ashley Graham, Land Portfolio, Development, Region of Waterloo Cherise Carlaw, Facilitator, Overlap Associates Kyrie Vala-Webb, Facilitator, Overlap Associates Mistie Brown, Communications and Community Engagement, Region of Waterloo Sarah Millar, Land Portfolio, Development, Region of Waterloo Sue Weare, CST Working Group member, City of Kitchener Discussion Items 1. Kitchener's Great Places Awards - Sustainable Kitchener Jury Panel - CCEC Representative (5 min) Janine Oosterveld, Manager Customer Experience and Project Management, Planning Division, Development Services, City of Kitchener 2. Charles Street Terminal Climate Change Discussion (60 min) Mistie Brown, Communications & Community Engagement Supervisor Planning, Development & Legislative Services Division for the Region of Waterloo March 7 Council Report 3. District Energy Feasibility Study (45 min) Tim Donegani, Senior Planner, Planning Division, Development Services, City of Kitchener John Zunic, Planner (Policy), Planning Division, Development Services, City of Kitchener 4. Climate Change and Environment Committee Meeting Format: In Person vs. Virtual (10 min) Chair Wallis, Climate Change and Environment Committee Information Items None Committee Administrator Shannon Lodenquai ** Accessible formats and communication supports are available upon request. If you require assistance to take part in a city meeting or event, please call 519-741-2345 or TTY 1866-969-9994 ** Date:April 4, 2023 To:Climate Change and Environment Committee From: Janine Oosterveld, Manager, Customer Experience & Project Management cc: Shannon Lodenquai Subject: Kitchener's Great Places Awards: Sustainable Kitchener Award Purpose: The purpose of this memo is twofold: First, seeking direction: That the Climate Change and Environment Committee identify a committee member to participate in the jury panel to select the winning project(s) for the Sustainable Kitchener award as part of the Kitchener’s Great Places Awards program. Second, awareness: Please share with your community that nominations are open for projects for the Sustainable Kitchener Award along with several other categories including urban design, placemaking, heritage, new neighbourhoods, master planning and student projects. Projects can range from “micro” projects (with a big impact) to new or renovated buildings and new neighbourhoods that have been completed in the past four years. Additionally, we are seeking professionals in various fields of expertise to participate in jury panels including the Sustainable Kitchener award. Nominations for awards and expressions of interest for jury panels are open until April 28th. For more information, please check out www.kitchener.ca/GreatPlaces. Background: The Sustainable Kitchener Award is a component of Kitchener’s Great Places Awards and is a relatively new award given to civic or private development projects that demonstrate innovation and exceptional design with respect to: sustainable development, water conservation, energy conservation and generation, air quality, waste reduction and management, supporting active transportation, and, transit-oriented development. The Sustainable Kitchener Award category is open to projects that have one or more prominent sustainability components, as per the themes which are further described in the Official Plan. Qualifying projects must be completed in the last 4 years and may include: 1 - 1 new developments, adaptive reuse of existing buildings, building additions, renovations, or site improvements parks and open spaces, public utilities, and, street improvements and other civic structures. The Sustainable Kitchener Award jury panel will be composed of: Manager, Policy Planning and Research (or designate); Director, Transportation Planning (or designate); Manager, Stormwater Utility (or designate); Climate Change and Environment Committee representative; up to three professionals which would cover such expertise as active transportation, environmental planning, energy management, and engineering related to the Official Plan policy themes noted. Expected commitment: The time commitment for this appointment is expected to involve reviewing submission materials for each nominated and short-listed project provided in advance and attendance at a single day, on-site review of the projects. The timeframe will be relative to the number of nominated and short-listed projects. For this category, we also try to coordinate a project representative to be on- site at a scheduled time to answer questions of the jury panel. The on-site commitment will be scheduled for a day in mid- to late June 2023 and we will target scheduling the date in early May to do our best to coordinate schedules. Awards celebration: We look forward to celebrating Kitchener’s Great Places at the ceremony the evening of November th 8. Winning projects are announced at this event. This is a public event and we invite all Climate Change and Environment Committee members to attend (more information to follow). 1 - 2 From:Mistie Brown To:Shannon Lodenquai; "Kyrie Vala-Webb" Cc:Anna Marie Cipriani; Natalie Goss; Carrie Musselman Subject:RE: Charles Street Terminal stakeholder engagement Date:Tuesday, March 14, 2023 2:01:11 PM Hi Shannon, Sharing the details of next month’s Stakeholder Lab session with Kitchener’s Climate & Environment Advisory Committee on April 20. Please let us know the timing of our agenda item and the room we’ll be meeting in. The session will include: a project overview, activity overview, individual ideation, a group discussion component and smaller breakout groups of about 5 people who will be paired with 1 staff facilitator/note taker. Session Title: Charles Street Terminal Visioning - Stakeholder Labs Session date, time, location: Thursday April 20, timing Tbc (4-6pm-ish) , in-person session at Kitchener City Hall Topic: Climate Action (as applied to the Charles Street Terminal site development) Facilitator(s): Overlap Associates (Kyrie Vala-Webb, Cherise Carlaw) Project staff/supporting facilitators: Sarah Millar, Land Portfolio, Development, Region of Waterloo Ashley Graham, Land Portfolio, Development, Region of Waterloo Angela Olano, Communications and Community Engagement, Region of Waterloo Mistie Brown, Communications and Community Engagement, Region of Waterloo Sue Weare, CST Working Group member, City of Kitchener Important Items to review before lab: Project overview page with important context; environmental findings, engagement process, etc - https://www.engagewr.ca/charles-street-terminal-redevelopment March 7 Council Report with more information on technical studies (environmental and geotechnical): https://pub- regionofwaterloo.escribemeetings.com/filestream.ashx?DocumentId=2774 Please let me know if you have questions or feedback. Mistie Mistie Brown (she/her) Communications & Community Engagement Supervisor Planning, Development & Legislative Services Division TTY for Region of Waterloo: 519-575-4608 Email: mibrown@regionofwaterloo.ca 2 - 1 Date:April 20, 2023 To:Climate Change and Environment Committee From: Tim Donegani, Senior Planner & John Zunic, Planner (Policy) Subject: Downtown Kitchener District Energy System– Project Update The purpose of this memo is to provide the committee with background information regarding the following: The concept of district energy its benefits and opportunities The open loop geothermal energy opportunity in Downtown Kitchener the 2020 Downtown Kitchener District Energy Systems prefeasibility study the scope of the current detailed technical and financial feasibility study. This memo provides relevant context in advance of a presentation to the Committee on April 20, which will describe the current work and its initial findings and suggested next steps. Following the presentation, the CCEC may wish to provide a resolution intended to inform Council’s deliberations on the Study. The City of Kitchener (City) has ambitious goals of advancing community energy solutions in pursuit of climate, economic and energy security objectives. One means of advancing community energy solutions involved implementing an open loop geoexchange district energy system (“DES”) serving the broader Downtown Kitchener geography. District energy (DE) is a proven and simple technology. Heat and cold is generated at a centralized plant and then circulated to customers through piped hot and cold water. District Energy systems exist in many large to mid-size municipalities including Windsor, London, Hamilton, Markham, and Toronto. It provides a flexible thermal energy backbone that enables green solutions that are not available to individual building-level HVAC systems. Ground source heat pumps, also called geothermal energy, use electricity (from the Province’s low-carbon electrical grid) and steady ground temperatures to efficiently produce heating and cooling for buildings. When paired with a DE system, it produces far fewer GHGs than conventional HVAC systems. Geothermal systems are only successful under certain underground conditions, including those found under downtown Kitchener. The City is currently undertaking a detailed technical and financial analysis specific to implementing an open loop geoexchange DES in Downtown Kitchener. The analysis will be informed by the “Kitchener 3 - 1 Innovation District DES Pre-Feasibility Study” prepared by FVB Energy Inc. (FVB) and result in Class 2 (+/-20%) technical and financial analysis, as defined by the Association for the Advancement of Cost Engineering (AACE) criteria. The objective of this project is to provide the City with a detailed technical and financial understanding associated with implementing a DES in Downtown Kitchener, beyond what was provided in the Pre-Feasibility Study. This project will better allow the City, Kitchener Utilities and/or other investment partners to make informed decisions around how best to move forward with developing a DES. e-Feasibility Study found that “based on the proposed development timelines and densities The Pr projected for downtown Kitchener, it is concluded that there is potential to establish a DES with a positive business case. The DES concept proposed for downtown Kitchener would serve approximately 416,000 m2 (4,485,000 ft2) of new development in four phases between 2023 – 29.” The preferred scenario identified in the Pre-Feasibility Study, Scenario 2, found that a “DES using base loaded open-loop ground source heat pumps/heat recovery chillers with conventional technologies used for peaking and back up, has the next (second) highest buildout cost of $47M (relative the other solutions that examined fossil fuel based, closed loop geothermal and combined heat and power) and IRR of 5.3% over 25 years. The GHG reduction is estimated at 5,100 tonnes (53%) of CO2 reduction (compared to Business as Usual).” The Pre-Feasibility Study also identified benefits to the City, Region of Waterloo, and the private sector. These benefits include: increased resiliency and reliability of heating and cooling systems; increased environmental and energy efficiency of these systems; increased flexibility of building design that reduces mechanical and electrical service and rooftop space that would have otherwise housed boilers and chillers; boosting the local economy by creating construction and operations and maintenance jobs; keeping energy dollars local; and improving public and consumer safety through the elimination of building-source carbon monoxide poisoning and reducing the risk of Legionella bacteria by eliminating the need for building-specific cooling towers. Kitchener is also one of two municipalities in Ontario that own a natural gas utility, Kitchener Utilities (“KU”) and is exploring a possible leadership role in district energy. Should KU be identified as the preferred owner/operator of the DES, there is an opportunity for the utility to sustainably diversify their business, adding a DES to their existing natural gas portfolio. 3 - 2 Downtown District Energy Study Area The Downtown Kitchener District Energy Study is focused on the following Study Area: This is an area of existing high and planned high density development and max of uses that could serve as customers of a district energy system. Significant public building can also provide a strong customer base for DES. Environmental Benefits of District Energy The Pre-Feasibility Study evaluated the opportunity for a district energy system supporting 6 key customers 2 in Downtown Kitchener with 450,000mof floor area in the Study Area. A DES utilizing open loop geoexchange technology was found to have a 53% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, compared to a business-as-usual trajectory for building heating and cooling. The system envisioned for Downtown Kitchener is a 4th generation DES, which operates using pressurized water at temperatures typically between 50-70°C. This lower temperature enabled a greater diversity of fuel sources including renewables, waste heat recovery, as compared to earlier generation systems. The Study also identified other environmental benefits for real estate developers, building owners and operations, and residents, as well as environmental benefits for the City and region as a whole. The benefits to real estate developers, building owners and operators, and residents include: •Architectural opportunities, including freeing up roof space for additional amenity space, green roofs, and renewable energy generation (e.g.: rooftop PV solar and solar water heating) •Increased comfort from hydronic heating and radiantfloor heating •Improved air quality + health benefits associated with green roofs Environmental benefits to the City and region as a whole include: •Improved energy efficiency of building heating and cooling systems, CO2e GHG reduction •Reduced building GHG emissions •Reduction in water usage for building-level cooling systems •Increased energy awareness and broader environmental benefits of district energy systems 3 - 3 This study will also review the technical merits of leveraging the DES for snowmelt capabilities within Downtown Kitchener. This could include implementing a snowmelt system under sidewalks and cycling infrastructure and could result in significant reductions in road salt application, improving groundwater quality and reduced sodium levels in soils. Economic Benefits of District Energy District energy brings the potential for broad economic benefits, not only within Downtown Kitchener, but across Waterloo Region. These economic benefits include the creation of jobs during the construction phase of the assignment, as well as ongoing operations and maintenance jobs once the DES is operational. The DES would also keep energy spending local, with the CEIS report finding that $1.8B in energy spending leave the region every year. This includes spending on energy sources such as gasoline, diesel, propane, and heating oil, as well as electricity generated outside of Waterloo Region. Recent growth and development within Downtown Kitchener have resulted in increased loads for utility providers. A broad economic benefit of a DES is reduced strain on the provincial electrical grid, specifically within the DES service area. A DES allows for reduced demand for electricity, which is particularly relevant during peak periods, and can delay expansion-related electrical transmission investments on the part of local electric utilities. Implementing a DES fosters the creation, retention, and expansion of firms involved in tailored heating and cooling solutions, specific to the design, construction, implementation, and implementation of the DES and accompanying components and systems required for its operation. This can lead to the development of an economic ecosystem for DES-related companies and stimulate the green economy both within the City and Region of Waterloo, as well as accommodating heating and cooling solutions such as server cooling for technology firms and data centres. From a building perspective, building owners and operators face lower upfront HVAC and mechanical costs and liabilities, as buildings would be heated and cooled using the DES. Buildings would not be required to provide building-specific HVAC equipment, or the physical space required to accommodate that equipment, allowing for more flexible floor plates for building developers. Additionally, the DES supports the City’s Strategic Plan and is aligned with two strategic goals - Vibrant Economy and Environmental Leadership, which advances the vision of building “a vibrant city by making strategic investments to support job creation, economic prosperity, thriving arts and culture, and great places to live.” Further, this investment represents a strategic investment in the City’s Downtown, positioning it “as a leading destination for redevelopment opportunities.” Next Steps This memo provides background information will set the stage for a more detailed presentation to the Committee on April 20 that will describe the detailed technical and financial feasibility study, its initial findings, and suggested next steps. After considering the more detailed information to be provided in the presentation, CCEC may wish to provide a resolution that would inform council’s deliberations on the study and the City’s potential pathways for supporting a DES in downtown Kitchener. The Financial and Technical Feasibility Assessment currently underway is set to conclude in Q2 of 2023, with a staff report set to be brought before Council. The forthcoming staff report will present a recommendation on whether or not to proceed with undertaking the development of a DES in Downtown Kitchener, informed by the findings produced by the consulting team. 3 - 4 Environmental Committee 2023 Meeting Dates and Deadlines Agenda Deadline for Agenda Agenda Posted -Meeting DateMeeting Format SubmissionsMaterial(end of Current Month (online) day) (i.e., memo, report, or Minutes Posted - presentation) Previous Month OngoingTuesday January 3Thursday January 5 Thursday January 19In -Person Monday January 30Thursday February 2 Thursday February 16In -Person Monday February 27Thursday March 2 Thursday March 23**In -Person Monday April 3Thursday April 6 Thursday April 20In -Person Monday May 1Thursday May 4 Thursday May 18In -Person Monday May 29Thursday June 1 Thursday June 15In -Person Tuesday Sept. 5Thursday Sept.7 Thursday Sept.21In -Person Monday October 2Thursday October 5 Thursday October 19Virtual Monday October 30Thursday November 2 Thursday Nov 16In –Person Monday December 4Thursday December 7 Thursday Dec21Virtual thrd **March 16meeting moved to March 23 Attend a meeting Environment Committeemeetings are open to the public, and meeting agendas and minutes are available ahead of time. Register as a delegation If you want to address the committee during a meeting, you can register as a delegation. Draft2023 CCEC Meeting Schedule 4 - 1