CONTRA COSTA COUNTY

Committee Meeting Minutes - Final

Sustainability Commission

Jamie Duran, Business Seat 1

Susan Hurl, Business Seat 2

Luz Gomez, Community Seat 1

Howdy Goudey, Community Seat 2

Shoshana Wechsler, District 1 Seat

Kim Jones, District 1 Alternate

Victoria Smith, District 2 Seat

Christopher Easter, District 2 Seat Alternate

Julie Haas-Wajdowicz, District 3 Seat

Vacant, District 3 Seat Alternate

Brandon Matson, District 4 Seat

Wesley Sullens, District 4 Seat Alternate

Solomon Belette, District 5 Seat

Reilly Kent, District 5 Seat Alternate

Devin Jackson, Education/Research Seat

Kiara Pereira, Environmental Justice Seat 1

Sarah Foster, Environmental Justice Seat 2

4:00 PM

Monday, April 29, 2024

1025 Escobar St., Martinez, Rm 110

ZOOM LINK: https://cccounty-us.zoom.us/j/84209078212 | Call in: 888-278-0254, access code

841892 | Joint Meeting with Hazardous Materials Commission from 4pm to 5:30pm | Regular

Business of the Sustainability Commission will begin at 5:30pm

https://cccounty-us.zoom.us/j/84209078212 | Call in: 888-278-0254, access code 841892

Roll Call and Introductions

Absent:

Erin Levine

Hazardous Materials Commission Member Attendees

Present:

Fred Glueck

Ron Chinn

Mark Hughes

Maureen Brennan

Marielle Boortz

Madeline Kronenberg

Staff Present: Demian Hardman-Saldana, Principal Planner, Dept. of Conservation and Development;

Jody London, Sustainability Coordinator, Dept. of Conservation and Development;

Michael Kent, Hazardous Materials Ombudsman, Contra Costa Health Services;

Adam Scarbrough, Planner, Dept. of Conservation and Development;

Luis Avalos, Inventory Manager, Contra Costa Health Services;

Wade Finlinson, Integrated Pest Management Coordinator, Contra Costa Health Services;

Cameron Soo, Medical Countermeasures Coordinator, Contra Costa Health Services;

George Carter, Economic Development Project Manager, Dept. of Conservation and

Development;

Emily Groth, Planner, Dept. of Conservation and Development;

Nicole Shimizu, Planner, Dept. of Conservation and Development

Attendees: Mark Z. Jacobson, Anthony R. Kovscek, Victoria Bogdan Tejeda, Kimberley Mayfield,

Devin Jackson, Yuan Wang, Chloe Carey, Jan Callaghan, Marti Roach, Valerie

Ventre-Hutton, Rhea, Marinell Daniel, Kate Lenhardt, M.F Gomez, Katie Lauer, Marcia

Liberson, Mike Landmeier, Tom Blanks, Tim Laidman, Carol Weed, Jean Tepperman,

Bruce “Ole” Ohlson, Gary Farber, Illana Weisman, Louis Flores, Kathryn Grace, Nick

Persampieri, Bob Atchinson, Sheila Tarbet, Marjorie Alvord, Denice Dennis, Maile

Chinn, 9253257093, 9712634826, 5104272136

Chair Gomez called the joint meeting to order at 4:00 p.m.

Norman Cohen, Charles Davidson, Christopher Easter, Sarah

Foster, Luz Gomez, Howdy Goudey, Kimberly Hazard, Susan

Hurl, Chuck Leonard, Michael Moore, Kiara Pereira, Victoria

Smith, and Shosana Wechsler

Present

Renee Fernandez-Lipp, Brandon Matson, and Wesley Sullens

Absent

Public comment on any item under the jurisdiction of the Commission(s) and not on this agenda

(speakers may be limited to two minutes).

There was no public comment for items not on the agenda.

RECEIVE Presentation and DISCUSS Carbon Capture and Storage from invited panelists

A panel of experts shared their work and findings related to carbon capture and storage

to the Sustainability Commission and Hazardous Materials Commission.

Kimberley Mayfield, Lawrence Livermore National Lab, provided a ground-setting

presentation about carbon capture and storage. Mayfield presented an overview of the

difference between Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) and Carbon Dioxide Removal

(CDR). CCS captures carbon dioxide before it can go into the air; CDR takes carbon

dioxide out of the air. Both CCS and CDR may result in geologic carbon storage.

Mayfield described the United States’ strategy to reach net zero emissions. Mayfield

shared California’s strategy for getting to net zero emissions looking at forests,

agriculture, biomass, and direct air capture. Biomass for Carbon Removal and Storage

(BiCRS) represents the largest opportunity to remove carbon from the atmosphere.

Direct Air Capture would capture the rest. Both BiCRS and Direct Air Capture require

geologic carbon storage. Geologic carbon storage refers to US Environmental Protection

Agency-permitted Class VI wells. Mayfield summarized the presentation by stating that

we have waited too long to decarbonize and now need to do CDR.

Mark Z. Jacobson, Stanford University, asserted that direct air capture processes are

energy intensive and not financially feasible unless the operations are subsidized.

Jacobson cited the Petranova Plant in Texas as the only plant where carbon capture

equipment was installed; a natural gas plant was installed to power the carbon capture

equipment due to the energy demand associated with operating the equipment. Jacobson

stated that carbon capture takes resources away from investments in renewable energy

like solar, wind, and geothermal; electric vehicles; and battery storage.

Anthony R. Kovscek, Stanford University, shared research modeling California and the

costs of zero emissions electrical systems. The results of the study show that options

where CCS is dispatchable is the lowest cost option. CCS allows for a more flexible

system. Kovscek stated that California has a good portfolio of geological CCS sites both

on- and off-shore and storage sites can be located away from seismically and

environmentally sensitive areas.

Victoria Bogdan Tejeda, Center for Biological Diversity, presented the portfolio of

proposed CCS projects in California. Tejeda shared which agencies have regulatory or

permitting authority over a CCS project. Tejeda presented the Montezuma Wetlands CCS

Project in greater detail which touches both Solano and Contra Costa Counties. Tejeda

explained concerns about the carbon dioxide plume area, uncertainty about how far the

carbon dioxide plume could spread, and the effects of compressed carbon dioxide leaks.

The Commission raised questions about pipeline safety risks, potential technology for

capturing carbon dioxide from mobile sources, phase out of the oil industry given the

demand for oil in the US, potential health and safety impacts related to the solvent used

for different carbon capture methods, whether emergency plans factor in carbon dioxide

leak risks, and the scope of natural carbon sequestration being considered compared to

industrial carbon sequestration.

Public Comment raised concerns about pipeline vulnerability during an earthquake,

ensuring a just transition to renewable energy sources, and how the public could receive

a recording of the Commission meeting.

REGULAR BUSINESS OF THE SUSTAINABILITY COMMISSION BEGAN AT

5:30PM

Norman Cohen, Chuck Leonard, and Kiara Pereira arrived at the start of the

Sustainability Commission regular meeting.

APPROVE Record of Action for February 26, 2024, Sustainability Commission meeting

2024-02-26 Draft Sustainability Commission Minutes

Attachments:

Commissioners requested one edit to the Record of Action for February 26, 2024,

meeting: “impervious surface” should read “pervious surface” on page 3.

Smith moved to approve the Record of Action with the requested edit. Second: Moore.

The Record of Action was approved.

RECEIVE Report on Bay Area Regional Energy Network Programs

2024_04_29 BayREN 2024-27 Overview for Sustainability

Commission

Attachments:

Demian Hardman-Saldana, Principal Planner, Department of Conservation and

Development, presented Bay Area Regional Energy Network (BayREN) program metrics

for 2023 under BayREN’s existing program portfolio and provided a preview of the

upcoming programs launching as part of the BayREN 2024-2027 Business Plan.

The Commission asked about BayREN’s goal to serve underserved communities and

how that goal is reflected in program participation, whether the BayREN Single Family

Program redesign would offer gas appliances, and how the redesigned BayREN Single

Family Program would leverage other incentive programs. The Commission remarked

upon the success of the Rising Sun Center for Opportunity’s Climate Careers Program.

There was no public comment on this item.

RECEIVE Reports from Sustainability Commission members and alternates, and

PROVIDE DIRECTION as needed

Pacific Refinery Cover Letter_041524

Pacific Refinery Presentation_042924

Attachments:

Commissioner Moore gave a presentation on the former Pacific Refinery in Hercules.

Moore noted that the closure and remediation of the Pacific Refinery site in Hercules

may provide insight into what could happen when the existing refineries may close.

Moore detailed how the Regional Water Quality Control Board provided oversight of site

remediation and how the remediation was funded through a Development and Owner

Participation Agreement between the City of Hercules and Hercules LLC. Moore also

referenced the East Bay Times article, “Is this East Bay

refinery-turned-housing-development a model for reclaiming contaminated sites?”

published on May 2, 2024.

The Commission raised questions about the similarities and differences between the

Pacific Refinery and current refineries. The Commission was curious to learn about who

was responsible for monitoring the site to ensure remediation was successful and what

the cost share for remediation was. Commissioner Leonard mentioned the forthcoming

study by the Asian Pacific Environmental Network and the BlueGreen Alliance which

includes draft recommendations for what a just transition could look like.

Public comment raised questions about who paid for the remediation and whether

Contra Costa Health Services conducts monitoring of toxic sites. Members of the public

shared about their local environmental club at their middle school and their work in the

community. One member of the public requested a similar presentation be done on

Criterion Catalyst in Bay Point of the toxic substances dumped in Shell Pond.

RECEIVE Report on Staff Activities that Support Sustainability Goals

2024_04_29 Sust. Staff Report to Sust. CMSN

Attachments:

Jody London, Sustainability Coordinator, Department of Conservation and

Development, highlighted recent staff efforts that support the County’s sustainability

goals. County staff are pursuing grant opportunities to support sea level rise planning,

an energy efficiency pilot for home-based daycares, cost studies for converting existing

buildings to be all-electric, and an urban forest management plan. County staff are

supporting two regional grant applications to the US Environmental Protection Agency’s

Climate Pollution Reduction Grant Program to transition homes to be all-electric and

develop mobility hubs. Through BayREN, the County funded a pilot program to give

away portable induction cooktops. The Sustainability in the County Newsletter went out

on March 28, 2024. The first Sustainability Exchange of 2024 was held on April 24,

2024 at the Antioch Dunes National Wildlife Refuge. London verbally corrected her

report, noting that the Just Transition Request for Proposal was not yet out. London

announced May was Bike to Wherever Month and Bike to Work Day was on May 16th.

Staff anticipates presenting to the Sustainability Committee at its next meeting with

options on how to reduce greenhouse gas emissions since the County’s All-Electric

Ordinance is no longer being enforced. Public Works received bicycle and pedestrian

improvement funding and continues to submit grant applications to fund further bicycle

and pedestrian improvements. Contra Costa County is officially a Vision Zero County.

Public Works’ Flood Control District continues to do watershed restoration. Public

Works submitted another grant application to support electric vehicle charging for local

government fleets. Contra Costa Health Services provided a summary of the Contra

Costa Asthma Initiative. The Green Business Program has hired additional staff and is

searching for more businesses to participate.

The Commission asked how many air filters were distributed by Contra Costa Health

Services.

There was no public comment on this item.

RECEIVE Report from Sustainability Commission Chair and IDENTIFY TOPICS for next

report to Ad Hoc Committee on Sustainability

Chair Gomez summarized her report to the Sustainability Committee which highlighted

the joint meeting of the Sustainability Commission and Hazardous Materials

Commission. Chair Gomez commended staff for their exploration of alternative ways to

reduce greenhouse gas emissions in light of the suspension of the County’s All-Electric

Ordinance for New Construction.

The next meeting is currently scheduled for June 24, 2024

Adjourn

10.

The meeting was adjourned at 7:04 p.m.

The Commission will provide reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities planning to

attend Commission meetings. Contact the staff person listed below at least 72 hours before the meeting.

Any disclosable public records related to an open session item on a regular meeting agenda and

distributed by the County to a majority of members of the Commission less than 96 hours prior to that

meeting are available for public inspection at 30 Muir Road, Martinez CA 94553, during normal

business hours. Staff reports related to items on the agenda are also accessible on line at

www.contracosta.ca.gov. Public comment may be submitted via electronic mail on agenda items at least

one full work day prior to the published meeting time.

For Additional Information Contact: Commission Staff, Demian Hardman-Saldana, 925-655-2816,

demian.hardman@dcd.cccounty.us