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Baja California State Climate Action Plan
Phase 1 – Identification of priority options for mitigating greenhouse gas emissions
August 2011
Introduction and Background
The Government of the State of Baja California, through the Commission for Ecology and
Sustainable Development (Comisión de Ecología y Desarrollo Sustentable, CEDES) and with
the participation of a broad sector of the community and federal government agencies, is
developing the State Climate Action Plan (SCAP). The purpose of the SCAP is to outline a
statewide strategy to mitigate (reduce) greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions that contribute to
climate change throughout the state and to implement measures to adapt to climate change
effects expected in Baja California.
The SCAP complements the strategies and measures identified by the Special Climate Change
Program (Programa Especial de Cambio Climático, PECC) at the federal level. It focuses
primarily on actions that Baja California can and should implement at the state level, in some
cases in coordination with federal agencies. The SCAP is being developed in coordination with
the National Institute of Ecology (Instituto Nacional de Ecología, INE) in order to comply with
requirements established by the agency for state plans.
The SCAP's development process can be summarized in four main steps:
GHG emissions inventory and projections
GHG emissions mitigation measures
Climate change adaptation measures
Development of the SCAP document
To date, the State of Baja California has completed the development of the GHG emissions
inventory and projections, and is in the process of evaluating and selecting GHG emissions
mitigation policies. This document is a report of the first phase of this last activity. The
evaluation of mitigation measures, which represents the second phase, has been proposed for the
second half of 2011, contingent upon the availability of the required funding.
The development of this phase of the SCAP received the support of the Border Environment
Cooperation Commission (BECC) through technical assistance provided under the Border 2012
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Program and funded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA). BECC is a
binational organization created by the governments of the United States and Mexico to preserve,
protect, and improve the environmental and human health conditions of the U.S.-Mexico border
region. In regard to climate change, BECC has supported the development of SCAPs in Mexican
border states by establishing coordination and training activities and providing technical
assistance funding. In the particular case of Baja California, BECC provided technical assistance
for the development of the emissions inventory and projections, and for the first phase of the
evaluation and selection of mitigation measures presented in this report.
The achievements made to date with the emissions inventory and selection of priority mitigation
policies have advanced the goals of the Border 2012 Program, particularly the Objective 2,
which aims to reduce air pollution by selecting policy actions that result in GHG emissions
reductions.
Objectives
The process for evaluating and selecting emission mitigation measures can be summarized in
two phases:
Phase 1- Identification of priority policy options for mitigating greenhouse gases
Phase 2 – Design and quantification of costs, benefits, and macroeconomic impacts of
priority policy options, and final recommendations
The purpose of this document is to present the methodology used and the results of Phase 1 of
this process.
An important achievement in this phase, in addition to the prioritization of mitigation options,
was the establishment of an Advisory Group (AG) and five (5) Technical Work Groups that
established and validated the master catalog of mitigation options specific to Baja California.
Advisory Group and Technical Work Groups
The SCAP Advisory Group (AG) was summoned by the State Governor through the Secretariat
for Environmental Protection (Secretaría de Protección al Ambiente) and was supplemented
with additional members in order to broaden the participation of other sectors of the community.
As shown in Table 1, the AG contributes a wide range of perspectives and interests to the
process, including those of federal, state, and local government agencies, the private sector,
academia, and non-governmental organizations.
The AG was responsible for identifying and validating the set of policy options to be considered
for inclusion in the SCAP.
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Table 1. Members of the Advisory Group
Additionally, five Technical Work Groups (TWG) were established, composed of a diverse
range of representatives of the community, including the government, academic, private, and
social sectors. Exhibit I presents a list of the members of each TWG. The function of the TWGs
was to review an initial catalog of policy options, add other options to the catalog, and issue
recommendations to the AG; however, the TWGs do not have decision-making authority. The
five TWGs created were:
Energy Supply (generation) – power and heat generation, with a primary focus, in the case of
Baja California, on the generation and distribution of electricity and hydrocarbon transportation.
Residential, Commercial, and Industrial (energy use) – energy efficiency in the residential,
commercial, and industrial sectors, including government offices; and the release of GHGs from
non-fuel industrial processes.
Transportation and Urban Development – vehicle efficiency, alternative fuels, mass transit, and
fuel demand reduction programs, including planning and urban development strategies.
NAME INSTITUTION
Tereza Cavazos Centro de Investigación Científica y de Educación Superior de Ensenada
JesúsZatarain Centro de Investigación Científica y de Educación Superior de Ensenada
Luis Vargas Comisión Estatal de Servicios Públicos de Ensenada
Fernando Zarzosa Comisión Estatal del Agua de Baja California
Arturo Jiménez Trejo Gobierno de Baja California
José Zavala Colegio de la Frontera Norte
Rubén Lara Lara Centro de Investigación Científica y de Educación Superior de Ensenada
Jaime Reyes Universidad Autónoma de Baja California
Sarah Martínez Pellegrini Colegio de la Frontera Norte
Alma Arreola Universidad Autónoma de Baja California
Modesto Ortiz Centro de Investigación Científica y de Educación Superior de Ensenada
Alejandro Lambert Arista Universidad Autónoma de Baja California
Tezozomoc Guillen Comisión Estatal de Energía
Gabriela Muñoz Colegio de la Frontera Norte
Carlos Alvarado Secretaría de Protección al Ambiente
Gabriel Márquez Servicios Tecnológicos de Ahorro en Energía (SAYAB)
Saúl Guzmán García Secretaría de Medio Ambiente y Recursos Naturales
Ramona Romero Universidad Autónoma de Baja California
Néstor Santillán Universidad Autónoma de Baja California
María de los Ángeles Santos Universidad Autónoma de Baja California
Ruth Rosa Gómez Haciendo Lo Necesario A.C.
Rafael García Cueto Universidad Autónoma de Baja California
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Agriculture, Livestock, Forestry, and Waste– soil protection, energy conservation and energy
efficiency in agriculture and livestock farming, reforestation, sustainable forestry, bioenergy,
sustainable wood products, waste reduction and recycling.
Cross-Cutting Policy Issues – emissions reporting and registries, public education, state goals,
state government "leading by example," social and gender equity in climate change policies.
The first four TWGs represent sectors of the economy, while the Cross-Cutting Issues TWG,
as its name implies, covers issues that are relevant to all sectors.
Additionally, each TWG received the assistance of a facilitator from the Center for Climate
Strategies (CCS). The figure below shows the relationship between the AG and the TWGs.
Methodology
Process for identification, prioritization, and selection of options
The process for evaluating and selecting priority options was led by SPA, and included the active
participation of 35 representatives from all sectors of the community who sat on the Advisory
Group (22 representatives) and the Technical Work Groups (13 representatives, in addition to the
AG). CCS provided technical support and facilitated the process.
The process consists of a total of 10 steps. The first 4 steps are reflected in Phase 1 herein, while
the six remaining steps will be implemented in Phase 2. Below is a summary of these steps.
Advisory Group (AG)
TWG
Energy Supply
TWG Residential,
Commercial, and Industrial
TWG Transportation and Urban Development
TWG Agriculture,
Livestock, Forestry & Waste
TWG Cross-Cutting
Issues
AG Member
CCS Facilitator
Local Facilitator
Technical Experts
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Step 1:Organization and Establishment of the Advisory Group and Technical Work Groups
As described in the previous section, the Advisory Group was comprised of 22 members who
represent the diversity of sectors in the state. The AG is responsible for guiding the process for
the selection of alternatives and issuing a series of final recommendations to the State Governor
to be incorporated to the SCAP. This first step also included the review of a base catalog of
mitigation options to be considered during the process. The base catalog was provided by CCS
and represents a compilation of about 340 policy options that have resulted from the
implementation of this process in many state plans throughout the United States. Each of these
policies included a description and a preliminary qualitative estimation of their mitigation
potential and cost.
Step 2: Review of the GHG Emissions Inventory and Projections
The GHG emissions inventory and projections were developed in 2009 by SPA and CCS, as well
as multiple federal government agencies. This step of the process allowed the AG and the TWG
to become familiar with the inventory and provided them a tool for prioritizing mitigation
measures.
Step 3: Expansion of the Policy Options Base Catalog
As stated above, the base catalog is a compendium of about 340 policy options; it provides a
preliminary qualitative estimation of each of the options' mitigation potential and cost per ton.
The base catalog was reviewed by the TWGs with the purpose of discussing the feasibility and
relevance of these options for Baja California; identifying additional potential options that should
be included in the catalog, based on the group's knowledge of the particular features of Baja
California; and making comments and annotations about the mitigation potential, cost per ton,
externalities, feasibility considerations, and related actions throughout the state. These actions
resulted in a revised catalog for Baja California, from which options for the state were
prioritized.
Table 2 presents the number of options included for each sector in the original catalog. The base
catalog may be downloaded from the project's website
(http://www.bccambioclimatico.mx/spn/GTACC.cfm).
Table 2. Policy Options included in the catalog for each sector
Sector Number of catalog options
Energy Supply (generation) 49
Residential, Commercial, and Industrial (energy use) 72
Transportation and Urban Development 112
Agriculture, Livestock, Forestry, and Waste 67
Cross-Cutting Policy Issues 37
TOTAL 337
Step 4:Priority Options for Future Review
Once the catalog of options was reviewed and expanded, the group proceeded to prioritize the
options with the best prospect of success in the state. SPA commissioned CCS to combine the
input from various SCAP stakeholders to date and produce a refined catalog of mitigation policy
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options. The exercise resulted in a reduction of the number of policy options from 337 to 246.
SPA assigned the task of selecting priority options in this refined catalog to a committee of
academic experts in the field, who identified 33 priority options based on their potential to
mitigate GHG emissions, implementation feasibility, cost-benefit ratio, and related actions
throughout the state.
The next six steps in the mitigation measures process will be carried out during Phase 2, and will
consist of:
Step 5: Preliminary design of options – including goals, implementation time, stakeholders
involved in the implementation, and establishing quantification parameters
Step 6: First quantification round – quantification of potential GHG emissions, costs, and
savings generated by priority options. Additionally, externalities (co-benefits or indirect costs)
are included
Step 7: Options matrix – design of policies and potential methods for their implementation;
definition of related policies; identification of obstacles for AG consensus and for
implementation
Step 8: Identifying solutions to overcome obstacles– Clarifications, additions, or modifications
to the policy designs
Step 9: Comprehensive policy review and comparison with goals – Integrating all the options,
avoiding overlapping and duplicity, and assessing impacts globally
Step 10: Preparing Final Report
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Priority Policy Options
This section presents priority policy options selected for the state of Baja California by economic
sector, along with a brief description of each proposed policy.
The committee of academic experts appointed by SPA, following a new review of the refined
catalog of policy options, decided to combine the energy demand and generation under the
Energy heading. Additionally, the forest component was removed from the Agriculture,
Livestock, Forestry, and Waste, inasmuch as forest management represents only a very small
opportunity for GHG mitigation in the state.
Energy
Priority options for the energy sector revolve around two strategies. The first strategy (Options 1
to 3) consists of diversifying the energy market in BC by incorporating the use of renewable
energies to replace conventional fuels. This incorporation should be done gradually, starting by
upgrading government buildings and schools, to finish with renewable energy clusters such as
solar panels in community-owned neighborhood rooftops, and arranging for transmission lines to
sell excess power to the grid. The second strategy is the conservation and efficient use of energy
(Options 4 to 8). These options are presented in Table 3 below and will be considered in the
design of policies during Phase 2.
Table3. Priority Energy Sector Policies
GHG Reduction Policy Option Reference to the Base
Catalog
1. Establish incentives to renewable energy generation for delivery to the power grid and removal or barriers to these processes
(ES 2.2)
2. Improve demand-side energy efficiency (ES 2.8)
3. Promote the production of liquid biofuels in the state (AFW 1.2)
4. Municipal energy management (RCI 9.3)
5. Focus energy efficiency efforts on identified market sectors (RCI 9.5)
6. Create energy efficiency reinvestment funds (RCI 9.6)
7. Use of manure digesters and other waste-based energy generation mechanisms (AFW 1.7)
8. Promote the use of municipal and yard waste as feedstock for heat, electricity, or steam energy production
(AFW 9.2)
Following is a description of priority options with reference to the base catalog.
ES 2.2 - Establish incentives to renewable energy generation for delivery to the power grid and
removal or barriers to these processes
This priority option reflects financial incentives to encourage investments in renewable energy
resources such as wind and solar energy. Examples include: (1) direct subsidies for the purchase
and sale of renewable energy technologies; (2) tax credits or exemptions for the purchase of
renewable technologies; (3) feed-in tariffs that provide direct payments to renewable energy
generators for each kilowatt-hour (kWh) of electricity generated by a qualified facility; (4) tax
credits for each kWh generated by a qualified facility; (5) regulations that result in incentives
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and/or the assurance of cost recovery for utilities that invest in renewable energy systems at their
central stations. In addition, this policy would make it a priority for the relevant state agencies to
identify and remove barriers to the development of renewable resources in the state.
Considerations for this option may include net metering, interconnection standards, and
production-based incentives (e.g., statewide program or rebate—such as in the form of dollars
per kWh—designed to encourage the use of renewable energy by offering production payments
for grid-tied electricity generated by wind, solar, and biomass resources).
ES 2.8 –Improve demand-side energy efficiency
Incentivize energy efficiency and smartmetering in the consumer sector, to allow consumers to
interact and manage energy use. See the Residential, Commercial, and Industrial (RCI) section.
AGR 1.2 - Promote the production of liquid biofuels in the state
Increase production of ethanol, biodiesel, or other liquid/gaseous biofuels from agriculture and
forestry feedstocks to displace the use of fossil fuel. For example, promoting the development of
cellulosic ethanol feedstocks and production systems that use renewable fuels.
RCI 9.3 –Municipal energy management.
Under this type of policy, the state could initiate and provide funding for municipal energy
management systems, as well as audits of energy performance and operations of local
government buildings. Audit results could be used to target and prioritize investments in
improving government building energy efficiency.
AGR 1.7 - Use of manure digesters and other waste-based energy generation mechanisms
Reduce the amount of methane emissions from livestock manure by installing manure
digesterson livestock operations. Energy from the manure digesters is used to create heat or
power, whichoffsets fossil fuel–based energy production and the associated greenhouse gas
(GHG) emissions. New technologies may also be considered, such as plasma arc
technology.Integrate methane digesters into agricultural operations to generate energy from
waste on anindividual or community basis.
RCI 9.5 – Focus energy efficiency efforts on identified market sectors
Energy efficiency programs, funds, or goals can focus on specific market segments, such
asexisting homes (weatherization), new construction, apartments, low-income residential, and
small and medium businesses. Targeting specific market segments can also be an
effectivecomponent of a regional market transformation alliance.
RCI 9.6 - Create energy efficiency reinvestment funds
This policy option involves the set-up of a fund from which grants are made available
toorganizations implementing energy-saving projects through internal loans from the fund.
Theproject loan is repaid at a percentage of annual energy savings, and once it is repaid
theorganization continues to benefit from ongoing energy savings. As repayments are recycled
backinto the fund, they are available for reinvestment, thereby creating a self-sustaining pot of
funds for further energy efficiency projects.
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AGR 9.2 – Promote the use of municipal and yard waste as feedstock for heat, electricity, or
steam energy production
Increase the amount of biomass available for generating electricity and displacing the use of
fossil energy sources. Local electricity or steam production yields greatest net energy payoff.
Transportation and Urban Development
Priority options for the transportation and urban development sector are grouped into three sub-
sections:
Implementation of urban development programs in the state's existing population centers
(Options 1-5)
Assistance to municipalities to enforce construction codes (Options 6-8)
Tax incentives for the development and construction of energy and water-saving
bioclimatic housing that treats wastewater and minimizes the use of air conditioning
and/or heating (Option 9)
Priority options for the transportation and urban development sector that should be considered in
the design of policies during Phase 2 are presented in Table 4.
Table4: Priority Transportation and Urban Development Policies
GHG Reduction Policy Option Reference to the Base
Catalog
1. Black carbon control technologies (TDU 1.3)
2. Lower and enforce speed limits (TDU 1.6)
3. Transit-oriented development (TDU 4.2)
4. Smart growth planning, modeling, and tools (TDU 4.3)
5. Transportation system management (TDU 5.1)
6. Improved construction codes for housing energy efficiency (RCI 2.1)
7. Improved design and construction quality in government buildings as an example of new regulations
(RCI 2.3)
8. Upgrades to local and state government buildings for energy efficiency (RCI 2.11)
9. Promotion and incentives for improved building design and construction (RCI 2.6)
Following is a description of priority options with references to the base catalog.
TDU 1.3 –Black carbon control technologies
Diesel particulate matter includes black carbon aerosols, which are thought to contribute to
global warming through positive radiative forcing. Diesel particulate emissions can be reduced
through the use of several types of exhaust retrofit devices and particulate traps.
TDU 1.6 –Lower and enforce speed limits
Reduced vehicle speeds can improve fuel economy, reduce GHG emissions, and improve
safety.One potential implementation method for this enforcement includes speed-detection
cameras,both for intercity highways and urban roads, which have been shown to be an effective
and cost-effectivemeans of achieving compliance with posted speed limits. Enforcement
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measures couldbe combined with measures to lower the speed limit on interstates, freeways, and
major arterialroads. Significant enforcement resources may be needed for this measure to
achieve the expectedreductions.
TDU 4.2 –Transit-oriented development
Provide economic incentives, liberalized zoning and land use restrictionsto encourage mixed use
development of properties in proximity to transitfacilities. Transit-oriented development is the
creation of compact, mixed-usecommercial or residential communities, designed to maximize
access to public transit and createa community attractive to pedestrians and bicyclists. Transit-
oriented development is thus a tool that can be used toreduce automobile travel and the
associated GHG emissions by increasing travel options andtransit ridership.
TDU 4.3 –Smart growth planning, modeling, and tools
Provide state funding, information dissemination, and technical assistance to facilitate the
adoption of smart growth planning processes, models and tools by local and state governments.
Smart growth planning, modeling, and tools are development methods that reduce sprawl and
maximize environmental, fiscal, and economic resources. This way of planning and modeling
often incorporates other planning tools such as mixed-use, open space protection and transit-
oriented development.
TDU 5.1 –Transportation system management Improve the existing transportation system management by analyzing current conditions,
improving traffic flow, synchronizing traffic lights, installing roundabouts, building high
occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes, designing intelligent systems, addressing interconnectivity of
transportation options, etc. Improve overall system functionality through broad planning
initiative.
RCI 2.1 – Improved construction codes for housing energy efficiency
Building energy codes specify minimum energy efficiency requirements for new buildings or
forexisting buildings undergoing a major renovation. Given the long lifetime of most
buildings,amending state and/or local building codes to include minimum energy efficiency
requirementsand periodically updating energy efficiency codes could provide long-term GHG
savings. The implementation of building energy codes, particularly when much of the building
occurs outsideof urban centers, can require additional resources. Potential elements of a policy
that includesbuilding codes are:
Require high-efficiency appliances in new construction and retrofits.
Train building code officials in energy code enforcement.
Potential measures supporting this option can include consumer education, improvedenforcement
of building codes, training for builders and contractors, and development of aclearinghouse for
information on and to provide access to software tools to calculate the impactof energy
efficiency and solar technologies on building energy performance. Building codes could also
follow the recommendations of the National Commission for Efficient Energy Use (Comisión
Nacional para el Uso Eficiente de la Energía, CONUEE) and energy efficiency standards, which
is a strategic approach for improving energy performance in the building design process.
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RCI 2.3 –Improved design and construction quality in government buildings as an example of
new regulations
Recognizing that governments should “lead by example,” this option provides targets to improve
energy efficiency in existing state and local government buildings, as well as for new
construction and major renovations of government buildings.
Potential elements of this policy include:
Requiring that energy efficiency be a criterion in procurement of energy-using equipment
and systems, and in the improvement in operation of buildings and other facilities.
Requiring audits of energy performance and operations of state and other
governmentbuildings (in tandem with an audit program). Audit results could be used to target
andprioritize investments in improving government building energy efficiency.
Improvementand review of efficiency goals over time, and development of flexibility in
contractingarrangements to encourage integrated energy-efficient design and construction.
Recommending that the infrastructure for implementation (meters, bookkeeping systems,
staff, etc.) be established as soon as possible.
Requiring state bulk purchase of appliances and equipment with higher-than-standard energy
efficiency for public facilities.
Establishing “retained savings” policies, whereby government agencies can retain funds
saved by reducing energy bills and apply them to further energy efficiency/renewable energy
investments.
Potential supporting measures for this option include training and certification of building-sector
professionals, shared savings with contractors based on performance, energy and water use
audits in government buildings, energy use benchmarking, measurement, and tracking programs
for municipal and state buildings.
RCI 2.11 –Upgrades to local and state government buildings for energy efficiency
Develop standards and/or directives for all government buildings to achieve energy efficiency
standards.
RCI 2.6 - Promotion and incentives for improved building design and construction
This policy provides incentives and targets for owners and developers of new and existing
buildings to improve the efficiency of the use of energy and other resources in those buildings,
along with provisions for raising targets periodically and providing resources to building industry
professionals to help achieve the desired building performance. This policy can include elements
to encourage the improvement and review of integrated energy use goals and resource-efficient
design and construction.
Additional potential elements of this option include:
Focusing on new, renewed, and/or existing buildings (under renovation).
Set a cap on the use of energy per unit area of floor space for new buildings.
Promote development projects that include energy monitoring and benchmarking.
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Provide incentives in the form of tax credits, financing incentives (such as "green
mortgages") or other incentives for retrofitting existing residential and commercial buildings.
Promote the use of alternative and local building materials and practices.
Potential supporting measures for this option include training and certification of building
professionals, consumer and primary/secondary education, performance contracting/shared
savings arrangements, and setting up an information clearinghouse, and access to software tools
to calculate the impacts of energy efficiency and solar technologies for buildings.
Agriculture, Livestock, and Waste
Priority options for the transportation and urban development sector are grouped into eight sub-
sections:
Promote the conversion of crops and technologies based on water availability (Options 1-
4)
Determine and update rangeland coefficients (Option 5)
Reintroduce massive planting of native species on rangelands and pasturelands (Options
6-7)
Restore and improve vegetation cover and soils (Option 8)
Create and implement sustainable soil and agricultural land management technology
(Option 9)
Determine viable productive reconversion, zoning (Options 10-13)
Generate and update information on basic crops, their resilience and recovery capacities,
and agroecological requirements (Option 14)
Create technologies for the sustainable management and use of animal waste and
agricultural residues (Options 15-16)
Priority options for the agriculture, livestock, and waste sector that should be considered in the
design of policies during Phase 2 are presented in Table 5.
Table5: Priority Agriculture and Livestock Policies
GHG Reduction Policy Option Reference to the Base Catalog
1. Establish soil carbon management methods (AGR 3.1)
2. Establish nutrient and water management methods (AGR 3.2)
3. Review irrigation systems (AGR 3.6)
4. Promote organic crops (AGR 5.2)
5. Restore degraded rangelands (AGR 6.3)
6. Changes in livestock feed (AGR 2.2)
7. Improved rangeland management (AGR 6.1)
8. Recover and improve vegetation cover and soils (AGR 4.1)
9. Increased crop production and energy efficiency (AGR 5.1)
10. Introduce technological improvements for increased efficiency (AGR 3.3)
11. Marginal soil management policy (SeeAGR 4.1)
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GHG Reduction Policy Option Reference to the Base Catalog
12. Grassland to cropland conversion policies (AGR 4.2)
13. Preserve open spaces and agricultural soils (AGR 4.4)
14. Biotechnology applications for GHG mitigation (AGR 3.4)
15. Increased use of biomass feedstock for heat and steam production (AGR 1.1)
16. Use of manure digesters and other waste-based energy generation mechanisms (AGR 1.7)
Following is a description of priority options with references to the base catalog.
AGR – 3.1 Establish soil carbon management methods
On managed land, the amount of carbon stored in the soil can be increased by the adoption
ofpractices such as conservational residue management and tillage (e.g., mulch tillage,
reducedtillage,no-till cultivation, etc.), crop diversity and crop rotation. Reducing summer fallow
andincreasing winter cover crops are complementary practices that reduce the need for
conventionaltillage. By reducing mechanical soil disturbance, these practices reduce the
oxidation of soilcarbon compounds and allow more stable aggregates to form. Other benefits
include reducedwind and water erosion, reduced fossil fuel consumption for management
purposes, andimproved wildlife habitat. Improved agricultural practices can often increase soil
carbon sequestration; however, nativevegetation and natural ecosystems are generally most
effective at storing and sequesteringcarbon.
Encourage soil productivity and carbon sequestration through the use of biochar, particularly
onagricultural land. The application of biochar increase soil carbon content, stabilizes soil
carbon,provides microbial habitat, and attracts and holds moisture and nutrients, making both
more bioavailableto plants.
Provide incentives for farmers to use production processes that achieve net sequestration
benefits.
AGR 3.2 - Establish nutrient and water management methods
Improve the efficiency of fertilizer use and other nitrogen-based soil amendments through
implementation of management practices and Generally Accepted Agriculture Management
Practices (GAAMP). Excess nitrogen not metabolized by plants can leach into groundwater
and/or be emitted to the atmosphere as N2O. Better nutrient utilization can lead to lower nitrous
oxide emissions from runoff. Maintaining higher nutrient levels in the soil (decreased leaching
and run-off) increases plant growth.
Improve the efficiency of water use through implementation of best management practices and
GAAMP (Generally Accepted Agricultural Management Practices). Excess water can lead to
run-off of nitrogen with subsequent emission to the atmosphere as N2O. By managing and
improving water consumption and nutrients spread on crops, there will be a minimal loss of
carbon from the soil. Reduced water consumption can result in lower energy use for water
pumping.
AGR 3.6 - Review irrigation systems
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Drought and uneven distribution of annual precipitation continue to threaten rain-fed agriculture,
especially in arid and semiarid regions. It has been proven that irrigation can significantly
increase crop yields and consequently enhance soil organic carbon accumulation due to reduced
soil erosion and increased biomass production. Energy efficient irrigation systems and
appropriate water conservation need to be partnered with this recommendation because of their
effects on greenhouse gas mitigation and adaptation respectively.
AGR 5.2 –Promote organic crops
Promote organic farming for its lower intensity practices and non-use of pesticides and fertilizer
which can off-gas greenhouse gasses. The emphasis on adding carbon-rich compost to soils and
less tillage result in higher soil carbon.
AGR 6.3 - Restore degraded rangelands
Historically, overgrazing and drought have interacted to degrade arid (< 250 mm annual
precipitation) rangelands. Ecological and economic inertia have constrained the ability of these
ecosystems to recover naturally and substantial carbon losses are occurring as exposed soils are
further disturbed by wind and water erosion. Currently, there are few, if any, viable technologies
for the economically viable restoration of these lands. New technologies and methodologies
could reduce the losses and increase carbon sequestration potential. Additionally, many areas of
rangeland are threatened by invasive species, both native and exotic, and are in need of
restoration-type management practices to reverse undesirable trends. Many of these practices
require substantial economic input and the exclusion or limited use of livestock grazing post-
treatment.
AGR 2.2 –Changes in livestock feed
Livestock emit methane directly as a result of digestive processes (enteric fermentation).
Research suggests that changes in the energy content of feed and other dietary changes can
reduce methane emissions from enteric fermentation. By optimizing nitrogen (protein) utilization
in the feed, nitrogen levels in the manure can be reduced, which in turn reduce the potential for
nitrous oxide emissions.
AGR 6.1 - Improved rangeland management
The greatest source of anthropogenic losses of soil carbon on rangelands is poor grazing
management. Excessive harvest of plant biomass by livestock and wildlife can lead to
diminished productivity. Chronic overgrazing can lead to loss of cover and accelerated erosion,
increasing carbon losses and decreasing potential for future storage. The most important aspect
of grazing management is proper stocking rate –defined as the amount of forage available
divided by the monthly animal demand– followed by proper distribution in space and time.
Controlling harvest/consumption insures that the optimum amount of photosynthetically active
plant tissue is available to fix atmospheric carbon. Management systems using light tomoderate
stocking rates with sufficient flexibility to respond to year to year variability andachieve desired
spatial distribution of grazing pressure are proven to be sustainable. The use of wildlife from the
same rangelands must be included into rangeland management systems.
Allowing livestock and wildlife to disperse over larger areas and/or keeping them from
concentrating in prime vegetation zones such as lowlands and riparian areas is key to ensuring
Final Report Baja California SCAP: Phase 1 2011-08-31
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healthy range conditions and thriving plant populations. Appropriate herding, location of
watering sources, distribution of salt and mineral supplements, seasonal timing of grazing and
assessment of range readiness may help increase carbon sequestration in plants and soils and
improve overall range health.
AGR 4.1 - Marginal soil management policy
There are several ways to enhance carbon sequestration in marginal lands: (1) reclaim these
lands with native vegetation appropriate to the habitat type; (2) convert marginal agricultural
land used for annual crops to permanent cover—such as grassland/rangeland or forest; (3)
continue to implement the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), and/or (4) encourage the
development of biomass-oriented production system such as planting with switchgrass,
miscanthus, mixed grass species, etc.
.
AGR 5.1 – Increased crop production and energy efficiency
Renewable energy can be produced and used on-site at agriculture operations. For example,
installing solar or wind power; using hydro-powered generators for irrigation; converting diesel
farm equipment to liquefied natural gas (LNG), compressed natural gas (CNG), or hybrid
technology; increasing on-farm use of biofuels and other renewables; expanding farm energy
audit programs; and updating machinery, equipment, and engines will reduce carbon dioxide
emissions by displacing the use of fossil-based fuels.
AGR 3.3 – Introduce technological improvements for increased efficiency
New technologies and cultivation methods have the potential to reduce GHG emissions when
fossil fuel or electricity consumption can be reduced. Auto-steer guidance systems are an
example as is auto swath technology, which uses global positioning system (GPS) to
automatically turn the spray boom sections on or off when coming to an area of the field that has
been sprayed or needs to be sprayed. Auto swath technology can be used for planting, fertilizing,
and other operations. On odd-shaped fields, it can result in a 3%–5% savings. See http://www.
agleader.com/products.php?Product=directcommand_l
Variable rate fertilizing and liming are also becoming more popular among farmers. The farmer
has a local co-op grid-sample the field, and then variable rate applies the fertilizer or lime in the
areas of the field that need it. The areas of the field that do not need fertilizer or lime have none
applied, which can result in a 50%–60% reduction in the amount of lime or fertilizer needed. See
http://www.agleader.com/products.php?Product=directcommand_g
GreenSeeker normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) technology. A farmer applies
50%–70% of his nitrogen at planting and then, in season, uses GreenSeeker to apply what the
corn or wheat plant needs when it is growing—a more efficient way of applying nitrogen that
will result in less nitrogen being over-applied. NDVI GreenSeeker is a new technology that is
still in its early testing stages, but it looks promising. Seehttp://www.ntechindustries.com/
greenseeker-RT200.html
AGR 4.2 - Grassland to cropland conversion policies
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Increased demand for corn-based ethanol and biofuel feedstocks can act as an incentive for
converting grassland to cropland. Adopt mechanisms to prevent the conversion of native
grasslands and highly operative ecosystems. Once croplands have been converted for biomass
production, protect these acres from returning either to annual crop production or suburban/urban
development.
AGR 4.4 - Preserve open spaces and agricultural soils
Reduce the rate at which agricultural lands are converted to developed uses, while protecting
private property rights and responsibilities. This retains the above- and belowground carbon on
these lands, as well as their carbon sequestration potential. Transportation emissions will be
reduced indirectly through more efficient development and lower vehicle use. Agricultural land
conversion may be prevented through conservation land grants and conservation easements
facilitated through nonprofit land preservation organizations.
AGR 3.4 –Biotechnology applications for GHG mitigation
Improved research in and utilization of drought-resistant, flood-resistant, pest-resistant crop
varieties. Biotechnology could lead to the introduction of plants with a greater uptake of carbon
throughout their lifecycle.
AGR 1.1 –Increased use of biomass feedstock for heat and steam production
Increase the amount of biomass available from forests for generating electricity and displacing
the use of fossil energy sources. Growing more biomass on a shorter rotation and/or more
perennial crops can increase carbon uptake in plants. If biochar is a by-product and incorporated
into the upper horizon of soils, carbon sequestration is increased.
AGR 1.7 - Use of manure digesters and other waste-based energy generation mechanisms
Reduce the amount of methane emissions from livestock manure by installing manure digesters
on livestock operations. Energy from the manure digesters is used to create heat or power, which
offsets fossil fuel–based energy production and the associated greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
May consider new technologies as well, such as plasma arc technology. Integrate methane
digesters into agricultural operations to generate energy from waste on an individual or
community basis.
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Recommendations and subsequent activities
To date, the State of Baja California has made considerable progress in the development of a
State Climate Action Plan (SCAP), including the development of a GHG inventory and
projections, the identification of 33 priority policies for enhanced conformance, and the creation
of an Advisory Group and five Technical Work Groups responsible for monitoring the
development of the SCAP and issuing recommendations to the State Governor on the steps to
take.
The next steps in the development of the SCAP will be to design and quantify emissions and
priority policies costs and savings; and to identify and quantify policy options for climate change
adaptation.
In addition to the benefits of the SCAP for the State of Baja California, it is important to
emphasize its relevance for the border region and the experiences that the process of preparing
this plan can offer to other Mexican states, primarily in regard to the active and transparent
participation of a large number of stakeholders from all sectors of the state's economy.
Acknowledgments
This component of the Baja California State Climate Action Plan (SCAP) was prepared under
the leadership of the Baja California Secretariat for Environmental Protection (Secretaría de
Protección al Ambiente de Baja California, SPA), with financial support from the Border
Environment Cooperation Commission (BECC) through technical assistance funding provided
by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
This task would not have been possible without the invaluable participation of the members of
the Advisory Group and the five Technical Work Groups created expressly for this initiative, as
well as the generosity of government agencies, academic entities, and the private and civil
sectors to which they belong. The list of all participants is included in Exhibit I.
The Center for Climate Strategies (CCS) provided assistance for developing the methodology
and facilitating the process
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EXHIBITS
Exhibit I – Members of the Technical Work Groups
Energy Supply
NAME INSTITUTION
Alejandro Lambert Arista Universidad Autónoma de Baja California
Tezozomoc Guillen Comisión Estatal de Energía
Gabriela Muñoz Colegio de la Frontera Norte
Rogelio Vasquez Centro de Investigación Científica y de Educación Superior de Ensenada
Margarito Quintero Universidad Autónoma de Baja California
José León Cableados Industriales
Residential, Commercial, and Industrial
NAME INSTITUTION
Carlos Alvarado Secretaría de Protección al Ambiente
Gabriel Márquez Servicios Tecnológicos de Ahorro en Energía (SAYAB)
SaúlGuzmánGarcía Secretaría de Medio Ambiente y Recursos Naturales
Ramona Romero Universidad Autónoma de Baja California
Transportation and Urban Development
NAME INSTITUTION
NéstorSantillán Universidad Autónoma de Baja California
María de los Ángeles Santos Universidad Autónoma de Baja California
Ruth Rosa Gómez Haciendo Lo Necesario A.C.
Luis Alberto Ocampo Consultoría Dinámica
Rafael García Cueto Universidad Autónoma de Baja California
Walter Zúñiga Castillo Instituto Municipal de Investigación y Planeación Urbana de Mexicali
Final Report Baja California SCAP: Phase 1 2011-08-31
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Agriculture, Livestock, Forestry, and Waste
NAME INSTITUTION
Teresa Cavazos Centro de Investigación Científica y de Educación Superior de Ensenada
Jesús Zatarain Centro de Investigación Científica y de Educación Superior de Ensenada
Luis Vargas Comisión Estatal de Servicios Públicos de Ensenada
Fernando Zarzosa Comisión Estatal del Agua de Baja California
Arturo Jiménez Trejo Gobierno de Baja California
José Zavala Colegio de la Frontera Norte
Juan Carlos Díaz Secretaría de Protección al Ambiente
Leonel Avendaño Universidad Autónoma de Baja California
Manuel Hernández Cámara Nacional de la Industria de Transformación
Cross-Cutting Issues
NAME INSTITUTION
Rubén Lara Lara Centro de Investigación Científica y de Educación Superior de Ensenada
Jaime Reyes Universidad Autónoma de Baja California
Sarah Martínez Pellegrini Colegio de la Frontera Norte
Alma Arreola Universidad Autónoma de Baja California
Modesto Ortiz Centro de Investigación Científica y de Educación Superior de Ensenada
María Isabel Granillo The Nature Conservancy
Daniel Domínguez Comunidades Verdes A.C.
Magdalena Sánchez Universidad Iberoamericana
Patricia Radilla Universidad Autónoma de Baja California
Cristina Villeda Secretaría de Medio Ambiente y Recursos Naturales