Municipal Actions

Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Pierce County

As Pierce County does extensive work to help our community transition to a low carbon future, it is important that Pierce County’s organizational operations reflect the same commitment to a healthy, vibrant, sustainable community by taking responsibility for internal greenhouse gas emission reduction while promoting equity in all County practices and policies.

In addition to completing a communitywide geographic GHG inventory for 2019, Pierce County also conducted an inventory of County operational GHGs. The major sources of County emissions come from County employee commutes, fleet vehicles and heating County buildings. The County has the opportunity to lead by example in reducing emissions and meet the same 45% reduction by 2030 target as our community. emissions source. In 2015, wastewater treatment made up 73% of waste emissions (and 55% in 2019). Solid waste accounted for the remaining portion of waste -sector emissions (27% of waste sector emissions in 2015 and 2019).

Between 2019 and 2015, County operational GHG emissions increased by 2% despite emission reductions in materials purchased and waste management. To meet Pierce County’s internal emission reduction goal, we will need to make responsible investments in new technology and adopt new behaviors in a work environment that encourages every employee to be a sustainability leader and learn together.

Key Goal: Reduce County municipal operation GHG emissions 45% by 2030 based on 2015 baseline.

Figure 1: Operational Emissions

by Sector and Source 2019

Emissions Trends by Sector: 2015-2019

Operational emissions increased by 2% between 2015 to 2019.

Between 2015 and 2019, the buildings sector has experienced the greatest increase in emissions (25% increase), followed by transportation at 3%. The largest emissions reductions occurred in the waste sector, where emissions have decreased 17% since 2015. Consumption-based emissions also decreased (15% between 2015-2019). See Figure 2 and Figure 3

Key Takeaway: What are the greatest emitters?

• Transportation is the greatest emitting sector (5 5% of the total in 2019). Most transportation emissions come from gasoline from fleet vehicles and employee commuting (41% of all operational emissions).

Figure 2. Emissions by Sector Over Time (mtCO2e)

• Buildings are the second largest contributor (26% of the total in 2019). The combustion of natural gas is the chief source of emissions within this sector (19% of all operational emissions)

Figure 3: Emissions by Sector Over Time (Percentage)

County Buildings & Fleet

County building energy use accounts for 26% of municipal GHG emissions – 19% is from natural gas use for building heating alone. Additionally, County owned vehicles account for 28% of municipal emissions (ferries, diesel and gasoline road vehicles). In 2023, Executive Dammeier signed an updated Electric First Policy, requiring all departments to prioritize electric options when making new purchases for building equipment, vehicles, and other maintenance equipment and tools. The following actions will help the County implement the Electric First Policy and reduce GHG emissions from County equipment and buildings.

Action Identifier Actions

Co-Benefits

Lead Department

Co-benefits

Enhance Public Health

Improve Water Quality

Improve Air Quality

Promote Equity

Economic Benefits

CBF- 1

Building Electrification Create a building electrification strategy to meet the intent and goals of Pierce County’s Electric First Policy.

Facilities

CBF-2

County Office Space When reviewing County space needs (owned or leased), prioritize building energy performance, proximity to public transportation and walking and biking accessibility.

Finance

CBF-3

Fund Upgrades Create a sustained funding mechanism to support building and fleet electrification upgrades at County facilities.

Finance

CBF-4

Lighting Efficiency Complete the change out of building lighting and streetlights to LEDs and more energy efficient lighting controls.

Finance

CBF-5

Fleet Electrification Maximize fleet electrification and minimize fuel usage across County fleets.

Finance

CBF-6

EV Charging Develop an electric vehicle charging infrastructure strategy and install appropriate electric charging based on the needs of the fleet.

Facilities

CBF-7

Ferry Efficiency Repower boats with EPA regulated diesel engines.

Planning and Public Works- Airports & Ferries

Commute Trip Reduction

26% of municipal GHG emissions come from employees commuting to work and traveling for business. The County can play an important role in helping employees reduce single-occupancy vehicle commutes by encouraging carpooling, vanpooling, public transit use, biking, and teleworking when possible.

Action Identifier

TABLE LEGEND

Co-benefits

Enhance Public Health

Improve Water Quality

Improve Air Quality

Promote Equity

Economic Benefits

Actions

Co-Benefits

Lead Department

CTR-1

Parking Revise County parking policies to maximize vanpool, carpool, and transit usage by employees

Facilities

CTR-2

Bicycle Infrastructure Develop a plan for bicycle infrastructure at County owned facilities

Facilities

CTR-3

Teleworking Develop countywide best practices for setting departmental telework policies

Sustainable Resources

County Waste System

3% of County operational emissions come from solid waste generated at County buildings. The emissions generated from the operation of the County’s wastewater treatment plant account for 6% of total County emissions alone. While we will continue to work with employees to reduce County waste, we also have an opportunity to improve waste systems managed by the County to reduce communitywide GHG emissions as well. 4% of communitywide emissions result from landfill operations and wastewater treatment.

TABLE LEGEND

Co-benefits

Enhance Public Health

Improve Water Quality

Improve Air Quality

Promote Equity

Economic Benefits

Action Identifier Actions

CWS-1 Internal recycling Expand and enhance internal recycling support and waste reduction efforts, including the addition of internal waste audits.

Co-Benefits Lead Department

Planning & Public Works - Sustainable Resources

CWS- 2 Sustainable landfill Maximize the amount of GHG captured at the LRI landfill (SHWMP, O3). Planning & Public Works - Sustainable Resources

CWS-3 Waste Collection Transportation

CWS-4 Sustainable wastewater

Develop a plan by 2025 for lowest GHG collection, disposal, and transport of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) in collaboration with contract partners (SHWMP, C1).

Maximize the beneficial use of biosolids and biogas produced during the wastewater treatment processes at the Chambers Creek Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant through the Unified Sewer Planning process to contribute to GHG reduction efforts.

Planning & Public Works - Sustainable Resources

Planning & Public Works - Sewers