Portland

Sector: Municipal Government

Population:

> Metropolitan Area: 1.3 million

Carbon Footprint:

> 2,058,750 metric tonnes CO₂e (2004)

TARGETS

> Reduction of the City’s CO₂e emissions by 10% by 2010 (not just from Government estate)
> To purchase 100% of local government energy from renewable sources by 2010
> Taking forward plans for a utility-scale wind power project to supply city facilities
> Achieving 60% recycling rate by 2005
> Participation in the Chicago Climate Exchange

Achievements

> 75% growth in public transit use since 1990
> 12% reduction in community CO₂e emissions between 1990 and 2004
> 10% of local government’s energy currently sourced from renewables
> Construction of over 40 high-performance green buildings

Benefits

> Savings of $11 million through City Energy Challenge between 1990 and 2003
> Savings of $300 million on energy bills for business and residential customers since 1990

Low Carbon Solutions

Background

Located in the American northwest, Portland, Oregon is a city of 500,000 people set in a broader metropolitan area of 1.3 million. The City has a strong history of natural resource stewardship and concern for local quality of life and, according to Office of Sustainable Development Director Susan Anderson, has developed an institutional framework well equipped to recognise and deal with big, long-range challenges.

When climate change became an issue in the late 1980s Portland was quick to react. In 1993, the city became the first local government in the US to adopt a plan to address global warming. It is also one of only a handful of cities that have set a target for wider city emissions rather than those associated just with local government. Anderson is clear that failure to do this would be ‘severely underestimating’ the contribution that cities can make. Since the climate change plan was introduced Portland has bucked the national trend by reducing per capita emissions of greenhouse gases by 13% while experiencing strong economic and population growth. The city has achieved this by focusing on a number of key areas:

Energy efficiency has always been a priority for Portland. Within the city government, an energy–management programme called City Energy Challenge has reduced the city’s energy bill by $11 million since 1991. Recently the city completed converting its traffic signals to highly efficient LED bulbs, an improvement that saves the City almost 5 million kWh per year and over $500,000 annually in energy and maintenance costs.

This energy efficiency work has been extended to the residential and business communities via the Energy Trust of Oregon. Founded in 2000 the trust administers energy efficiency and renewable energy programs for customers of the region’s utilities. In its first 2 years the trust provided energy efficiency incentives to over 200 businesses and 14,000 Portland households generating annual bill savings of $1.5 million.

In addition to work on energy efficiency, Portland’s Local Action Plan on Global Warming sets aggressive goals for renewable resources, instructing the City to acquire 100% of its energy needs from renewable sources by 2010 with an interim target of 10% by 2003. Actual renewable energy purchased currently stands at around 11%.

In order to meet its long term goal the City has invested in a number of new schemes including hydroelectric turbines in its drinking water reservoir system and a fuel cell powered by waste methane. Most significantly, in June 2003, the City purchased green energy certificates representing nearly 44 million kWh of wind power – enough to supply nearly 4,000 homes for a year. In recognition of the city’s accomplishments, the US EPA named the City of Portland the Green Power partner of the year for 2003, the first municipality to earn this accolade.

According to Michael Armstrong, a policy analyst with the City’s Office of Sustainable Development, many of the building blocks are in place to help Portland to realise its 100% renewables goal: “At a state level a requirement came into force 2 years ago that dedicates a certain percentage of electric bills to energy efficiency and renewable energy. The infrastructure to spend that money in a constructive way is still developing, so we have a host of green energy developers who are identifying sites. In the next 3-10 years many projects will come online and I am optimistic that we are going to make real progress not just with the city’s own operations but at a broader level.”

Although per capita emissions in Portland have come down, absolute emissions are still hovering at around 1% above 1990 levels (although real reductions have been achieved over the last 2 years). By developing the Climate Change Plan in the two key areas of renewable energy and transportation Portland’s 10% reduction target is still realistic, according to city representatives. There are a number of projects in the pipeline – the feasibility of a utility-scale wind power project to supply City facilities is currently being explored.

Portland, by making the right choices, has shown that it is possible to be a thriving city whilst addressing the challenge of climate change. And the co-benefits of taking action feed directly into Portland’s long tradition of concern for quality of life. Clean air, easier transportation access, cheaper energy, more trees, less storm water run off and safer streets are all benefits of the Climate Change Plan.

The city has also established itself as a leader in the field of ‘green building’. In 2000 Portland launched a program offering technical assistance, education and financial incentives for green building to the design, development and building communities and to homeowners. Since 2001 the City has provided technical and financial assistance to more than 300 local buildings.

Transportation currently accounts for over 40% of local greenhouse gas emissions in Portland and is therefore a critical area for action. A range of recent initiatives has helped build on a history of progressive transportation planning in the city. Pedestrian and cycling infrastructure has been improved with 230km of bicycle paths and lanes added throughout the 1990s. There has also been an outreach programme, various incentive schemes and a mass marketing campaign to educate people on alternatives to driving alone. Census data shows that commuting on foot and bike increased almost 10% between 1990 and 2000 while rates of people driving alone have decreased.

Portland is using carbon-offset funding to re-time traffic signals and improve traffic flows on local roads, limiting unnecessary braking, acceleration and idling and thus reducing emissions from vehicles. City vehicle fleets have also changed with City of Portland purchasing more than 30 highly fuel efficient hybrid vehicles since 2001. Indeed, on a per capita basis more hybrid vehicles are sold in the Portland area than anywhere else in the US. Overall, per capita gasoline use has fallen almost 10% since 1990, contributing over $40 million annually to the local economy.

Over the last 3 years a number of larger scale transportation projects have been implemented. Light rail lines to the airport and North Portland opened in 2001 and 2004 respectively and a central city streetcar also opened in 2001. These are exciting additions to a growing public transit network aimed at reducing emissions and improving sustainability in the long term.

Energy Conservation and Renewables: Wind farms will provide one source of renewable energy.  Solar panels on the roof of this van give mobile electricity for power tools.

Transportation Transformation: Public transport ridership has increased 65% since 1990, and bike commuters have tripled since 1992.