Climate Economy

CE 4: Establish sustainable financing for the Region’s Climate Action Plan implementation.

CE 4- 1 Utilize state and federal funding, incentives, and grants available to support local government climate action implementation resulting from the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) and others.

CE 4- 2 Explore the potential of collaborations with donors, philanthropists, and non-profit foundations to develop a Climate Action and Equity Fund for Minnesota Region 4, or within each county of Region 4.

CE 4- 3 Support and encourage local governments to establish a policy that accounts for all energy efficiency and renewable energy operational cost savings of government buildings and fleets. All savings to be invested into a Climate Action Fund as one source of financing for the local government's climate action efforts.

CE 4- 4 Conduct a study to establish an Urban Forestry Product program to sell wood products, and dedicate funds to climate action plan strategy implementation. Revenue sources could include: sale of Ash tree logs removed as a part of the region's EAB management plan, selling tree storm debris and tree trimming waste to waste-to-energy plant or pelletizer, selling sugar taping rights to Maple, Birch, and Walnut trees located on public property and right of way responsibility, etc.

CE 4- 5 Explore creation of a Region 4 Carbon Fund carbon offset program which enables investing in local or regional project carbon offsets.

CE 4- 6 Explore creation of a Minnesota Region 4 Forest Credit program to fund local tree canopy increases, urban and rural tree maintenance, and provide carbon offset credits.

Climate Action Baseline Study

To support the Minnesota Region 4 Climate Action Plan planning team members, the paleBLUEdot team assembled the Climate Action Baseline Study. This document provided a review of a wide range of community-wide metrics, data, and comparisons against regional peer communities for each of the climate action plan sectors included in this report. The document also included preliminary sector specific draft strategic goal recommendations for the Climate Action Plan planning team to consider, discuss, and revise at the beginning of the planning team effort.

Click on the link below to access the document: https://view.publitas.com/palebluedot/mn-region-4-climate-aciton-baselineand-reduction-recommendations/

Climate Vulnerability Assessment

At the beginning of the Climate Action Planning effort, the paleBLUEdot team developed a Climate Vulnerability Assessment for Minnesota Region 4. The assessment included the identification of vulnerable populations within the community and possible impacts and risks associated with projected climate change for the region. paleBLUEdot mapped the vulnerable populations within the Region as well as existing infrastructure and resources which may be capable of supporting climate adaptation strategies. These assessments provided a basis for understanding vulnerabilities and resources which supported the decision making process needed for identifying and prioritizing climate adaptation measures to be included in the final Climate Action Plan. The Assessment focused on Region-Wide vulnerabilities with a particular focus on climate vulnerable populations to ensure all populations benefit from proposed implementation measures.

Click on the link below to access the document: https://view.publitas.com/palebluedot/mn-region-4-climate-vulnerability-assessment -102622-jbmd6qj8kvrb/

Community-Wide GHG Inventory

The paleBLUEdot team compiled a region-wide Greenhouse Gas Inventory. The assessment included collection of raw data and calculation of greenhouse gas emissions for each of the primary emissions sectors included in this Climate Action Plan. The inventory included both community-wide emissions as well as municipal operations. The report included communitywide emissions comparisons against communities within the State and region.

Click on the link below to access the document: https://view.publitas.com/palebluedot/region-4-ghginventory/

Region-Wide Ground Cover, Tree Canopy and Carbon Sequestration Study

paleBLUEdot conducted a baseline assessment of RegionWide ground cover and tree canopy extent. The study identified ground cover conditions (grass, water, wetland, tree canopy) Region-wide as well as by census tract. Based on the groundcover data, calculations were made for annual carbon sequestration rates, carbon stock, tree canopy/green space economic value, and pollution absorption rates (CO, O3, NO2, SO2, particulate pollution).

Included in this assessment was an assessment of RegionWide heat island characteristics and conditions. The study identified impervious surface conditions and coverage (sidewalks, roadway, parking, and building) and compiled data in subcategories of light reflective and light absorbent conditions. Baseline calculations were made for overall heat island contribution coefficient by neighborhood (expressed as summer night time degrees F above natural conditions, calculations based on research and formulas compiled by the University of Minnesota and Minnesota State University).

Click on the link below to access the document: https://view.publitas.com/palebluedot/mn-region-4-groundcover-heat-island-and-carbon-sequestration-study/

Community-Wide Renewable Energy Potentials Study

In support of development of effective renewable energy goalsetting and to establish strategies addressing renewable energy development, paleBLUEdot conducted a Region-Wide solar pv potentials study including economic and environmental benefits. This effort included:

1) Collect community-wide satellite data (NREL, NOAA, and NASA data).

2) Determine building roof stock characteristics and solar suitable buildings, calculate total suitable areas by roof configuration/orientation.

3) Calculate total rooftop solar capacity and annual energy generation by roof configuration/orientation.

4) Identify cost efficient annual energy generation potential.

5) Research solar market at national, State and regional levels. Identify low, medium, and high solar market absorption rates and community-wide solar pv goals.

6) Identify environmental and economic benefit of solar including economic development and job creation potential. (NREL JEDI model)

7) Develop community-wide Renewable Solar Energy Potentials report.

Click on the link below to access the document: https://view.publitas.com/palebluedot/mn-region-4-renewable -potentials-study/

The following is a glossary of climate action, resilience, and sustainability terms used in this Climate Action Plan