A²Zero

2019

Climate Emergency Declaration unanimously passed

2020

Unanimous adoption of A²Zero – City’s carbon neutrality plan

2030

Ann Arbor achieves a just transition, community-wide, to carbon neutrality

A²Zero

The Process

3

82 working days:

• 3 Public Surveys
• 68 public events
• 2 large town halls
• Over 80 technical advisors
• 66 partner organizations

A²Zero

The Values

• Transparent
• Community-Led
• Inclusive

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• Living / Iterative
• Holistic
• 3 E’s

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• Okay to Fail
• Diversified
• Prioritizes Frontline Populations

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A²Zero

Together, creating and implementing a just transition to carbon neutrality by the year 2030.

A²ZERO Vision

A²Zero

Expanded Inventory by Sector

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2019

2.0

1.9

1.9

1.8

1.7

A²Zero

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The Plan

A²Zero

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A²ZERO STRATEGIES

A²Zero

1. Community Choice Aggregation
2. On-Site Renewable Energy Generation with Battery Storage (Bulk Buys)
3. Community Solar Program
4. Landfill Solar Project
5. Home and Business Electrification Policies and Support
6. Electrify Buses
7. Support Community Electric Vehicle and Solar Bulk Buys
8. Electrify City Fleet
9. Electrify Private Fleet
10. Expansion of Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure
11. Support Transition to More Energy Efficient Homes and Businesses
12. Update Building Codes
13. LED Powered Streetlights and Traffic Signals
14. Energy Disclosure / Benchmarking
15. Loan Loss Reserve

The Actions

16. Energy Concierge and Community Education
17. Net Zero Energy Affordable Housing
18. Green Business Challenge
19. Green Rental Housing Program
20. Aging in Place Efficiently
21. Expansion of Weatherization Program
22. Implement Non-Motorized Plan
23. Expand and Improve Local Transit
24. Expand and Improve Regional Transit
25. Increase Number of Park and Rides and Ensure Seamless Connection to Transit
26. Increase Housing Opportunity
27. Mixed-Use Neighborhoods
28. Tiered Parking Rates
29. Expansion of Composting Program
30. Expansion of Commercial Recycling
31. Require Sustainable Materials in New and Existing Developments

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32. Move Toward a Circular Economy
33. Support a Plant Rich Diet
34. Enhance Refrigerant Recycling and Reuse Program
35. Invest in Resilience Hubs
36. Foster Neighborhood and Youth Ambassadors
37. Preserve & Enhance Local Tree Canopy
38. Conduct Asset and Needs Mapping of Neighborhoods
39. Assist in Assembling and Disseminating Emergency Preparedness Kits
40. Implement Sensors to Monitor Heat, Air Quality, Waterways, and Flooding
41. Equity Programs
42. Sustaining Ann Arbor Together Grant Program
43. Internal Carbon Price
44. Greenhouse Gas Emissions Offsets

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A²Zero

1. Community Choice Aggregation
2. On-Site Renewable Energy Generation with Battery Storage (Bulk Buys)
3. Community Solar Program
4. Landfill Solar Project
5. Home and Business Electrification Policies and Support
6. Electrify Buses
7. Support Community Electric Vehicle and Solar Bulk Buys
8. Electrify City Fleet
9. Electrify Private Fleet
10. Expansion of Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure
11. Support Transition to More Energy Efficient Homes and Businesses
12. Update Building Codes
13. LED Powered Streetlights and Traffic Signals
14. Energy Disclosure / Benchmarking
15. Loan Loss Reserve

The Actions

16. Energy Concierge and Community Education
17. Net Zero Energy Affordable Housing
18. Green Business Challenge
19. Green Rental Housing Program
20. Aging in Place Efficiently
21. Expansion of Weatherization Program
22. Implement Non-Motorized Plan
23. Expand and Improve Local Transit
24. Expand and Improve Regional Transit
25. Increase Number of Park and Rides and Ensure Seamless Connection to Transit
26. Increase Housing Opportunity
27. Mixed-Use Neighborhoods
28. Tiered Parking Rates
29. Expansion of Composting Program
30. Expansion of Commercial Recycling
31. Require Sustainable Materials in New and Existing Developments

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32. Move Toward a Circular Economy
33. Support a Plant Rich Diet
34. Enhance Refrigerant Recycling and Reuse Program
35. Invest in Resilience Hubs
36. Foster Neighborhood and Youth Ambassadors
37. Preserve & Enhance Local Tree Canopy
38. Conduct Asset and Needs Mapping of Neighborhoods
39. Assist in Assembling and Disseminating Emergency Preparedness Kits
40. Implement Sensors to Monitor Heat, Air Quality, Waterways, and Flooding
41. Equity Programs
42. Sustaining Ann Arbor Together Grant Program
43. Internal Carbon Price
44. Greenhouse Gas Emissions Offsets

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A²Zero

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The Plan

Governance Framework

Prioritization Framework

Investment Scenario

A²Zero

12

Carbon Neutrality Coordinating Committee

• Committee of major institutions working on or central to carbon neutrality.
• Exploring shared objectives and collaboration opportunities.
• Includes:
• Ann Arbor Area Transit Authority
• Ann Arbor Public Schools
• City of Ann Arbor
• Michigan League of Conservation Votes
• University of Michigan
• Washtenaw County

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A²Zero

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Benchmarking

• Ensuring residents and business owners understand the energy costs of renting and living in Ann Arbor.

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• Knowing the costs can lead to more informed decisions on making energy efficiency improvements that save the occupant money

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• Includes Commercial and Time of Marketing

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• Rental Standard initiated soon

A²Zero

SOLARIZE PROGRAM

• Neighborhood based bulk-buy solar opportunity

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• Gather friends, neighbors, colleagues, community members together to learn about solar and have the opportunity to purchase solar in bulk-buy, with discounts due to volume
• Currently running a series of cohorts

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December 15, 2021

A²Zero

EV Strategy Planning

• Building comprehensive strategy to achieve transportation goals defined in A²ZERO
• Holistic approach to EV adoption including actions such as:
• AAPS bus fleet electrification
• State EV policy
• AAATA bus electrification
• EV bulk buys
• City fleet electrification
• Expansion of EV charging infrastructure
• Collaborating with energy and transportation commissions to design programs and build selection/prioritization criteria

A²Zero

EV Readiness Ordinance

• Work began in 2018 by the Office of Sustainability and Innovations, Transportation Commission, and Ecology Center to develop ordinance
• Researched EV zoning ordinances in other cities, many of which require EV infrastructure to be built with new construction
• Reviewed by Planning Commission, will likely make first appearance before City Council in September
• Requires new site plans to include EV infrastructure. Delineates EV parking spots as EV Capable, EV Ready, and EV Installed, depending on installed hardware

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A²Zero

Community Solar Program

• Not all residents can install solar on their property.

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• Community Solar provides options to all who want to invest in solar locally by allowing solar installations on public properties with public ownership of the assets.

A²Zero

Home and Business Electrification Policies and Support

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• Electrifying our appliances will help reduce methane emissions – which are 25 times better at warming the atmosphere compared to CO₂e

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• Involves establishing policies and programs that promote electrification of heating and cooking systems by evaluating options in codes, programs, etc.

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• Exploring a pilot in Bryant neighborhood – Whole home health, safety, and comfort assessment

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• Sticker replacement campaign

A²Zero

Update Building Codes

• Buildings are the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions locally

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• In Michigan, residents are constrained by the State’s building code as to what type of upgrades and standards are applied to new buildings

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• We will work with the state to pass the 2021 building code and the zero code appendix so that all new developments and major renovations in Ann Arbor can be net zero energy

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• Evaluate UDC for opportunities to support A²ZERO

A²Zero

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10,000 Trees Initiative

A²Zero

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A²ZERO Ambassadors

A²Zero

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Sustaining Ann Arbor Together Grant

A²Zero

Thank You

mstults@a2gov.org

A²Zero

A²Zero