Title
Sustainability Manager Updates
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The ESB receives routine updates from the Sustainability Manager.
1. Launched the Sustainability Newsletter as an avenue to communicate with the community regarding environmental sustainability initiatives. The email performance is 31 subscribers, 74.2% open rate, and 32.3% click rate. When asked “What do you want to learn more about?” The highest scoring category with 22.9% responded “Nature Based Solutions”
2. The Community Greenhouse Gas Emissions Study and Climate Action Plan
On November 12, 2024, County Council adopted the climate action plan and the GHG emission reduction target to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050; and further moved to maintain BPU’s and Council’s goal in the strategic plan to phase out natural gas by 2070 for residents and businesses, while accelerating the natural gas phase out target for County Facilities to 2050 in alignment with CAP recommendations. I would like to give a special thanks to Los Alamos County Council, Environmental Sustainability Board, Board of Public Utilities, Los Alamos Sustainability Alliance, LARES Task Force, county staff and all the community members who contributed to this process.
3. Food Waste Composting Presentation was provided to Council on September 6, 2022. County Council voted unanimously to acknowledge and accept the ESB’s recommendation and direct the County Manager to implement a food composting system at Bayo Canyon using a windrow system; provide drop-off sites for residents and curbside collection for business; and incorporate this program into the revised Environmental Services associated fees and FY2024 budget development. Phase II - Design Services began December 2022.
a. Due to unforeseen site constraints, alternative sites are being considered and will be presented to Council on February 6, 2024. Council approved recommendation to seek DOE approval to amend the lease to allow aerated static pile (ASP) composting at the Eco Station. County staff is working with DOE to obtain approvals for lease amendment to allow for ASP composting at the Eco Station. The County has been working with DOE to request an amendment to the lease.
4. Grant Opportunities
a. The County submitted a grant for the USDA Composting and Food Waste Reduction Grant for $500K
b. The County submitted a grant for the USDOT Charging Fueling and Infrastructure Grant for $3.8M
c. The County is working on submitting a grant for Solid Waste Infrastructure and Recycling grant to develop a food composting program.
d. The County is developing a grant application for NMDOT EVSE Grant Program for EV Infrastructure for $1.5M.
5. EV Infrastructure
a. The County is working on deployment of 14 - Level 2 - EV Chargers to serve County Fleet and the public
b. The County is finalizing the task order to conduct a Fleet Conversion Plan and Community-wide EV Charging Plan
Attachments
A - Residential Sustainability Report - November 2024