By KIRSTEN LASKEY
Los Alamos Daily Post
kirsten@ladailypost.com

Achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions is possible but to do so will require the whole community’s involvement.

As a result, Los Alamos County Sustainability Manager Angelica Gurule emphasized the importance of everyone participating in the conversations, and public meetings about the Climate Action Plan and how to best protect the environment.

“One of the things people can do is be informed,” Gurule told the Los Alamos Daily Post Monday. “Come to the meetings, understand the process … understand where our greenhouse gas emissions are coming from. Talk to your neighbors and your peers about what actions can be taken to reduce our environmental impact. It takes a community to make change.”
She added that Los Alamos County can make operational changes to reduce our climate impact, but the County government is just one piece of the puzzle.

“We have to understand how our lifestyle choices impact the environment,” Gurule said.

One avenue available for the community to get involved in is the development of the County’s climate action plan and greenhouse gas emissions study.

Gurule reported on the work being done on these studies during the Los Alamos County Council meeting Nov. 14.

The studies, she said, were born out of recommendations made by the Los Alamos Resiliency, Energy and Sustainability (LARES) Task Force, which were brought to council in February 2022.

In turn, the council funded two actions: one being the greenhouse gas emission study and the second is the climate action plan.

Both, Gurule said, are in progress.

She explained Monday that the greenhouse gas inventory is close to completion. The sector-based greenhouse gas inventory looks at all the emissions that occur withing the county’s borders. The consumption-based inventory considers emissions that may occur anywhere in the world, as long as they are directly or indirectly a result of the activities of the residents of the county.

As far as how Los Alamos residents measure up, Gurule said there is strong correlation between higher greenhouse emissions and higher incomes, discretionary income is a major variable. The more money a resident can spend on goods and services, typically the more emissions are produced.

The greenhouse gas emission inventory will be further discussed during a special meeting at 5:30 p.m. Dec. 11 in Council Chambers in the Municipal Building. The meeting will be broadcast on Zoom, too. Additionally, a detailed summary of a recent survey for the climate action plan can be found on the County’s website here.

To further progress this study and plan, County Council approved 6-1, with Councilor David Reagor opposed, more recommendations by LARES during its regular meeting Nov. 14. The recommendations’ goal is to accelerate carbon emission reduction and mitigate climate change in parallel to the work for the greenhouse study and climate action plan. Their focus is on overarching policy statements, partnerships, County policy, strategic investments and advocacy.

Included in the proposed recommendations are:

• Establish net-zero greenhouse gas emissions as a long-term goal for Los Alamos, both the community (exclusive of LANL) and its government;
• Formalize the BPU/DPU and Los Alamos County Council goal to be a net zero carbon electricity supplier by 2040;
• Form a partnership with LANL and the Los Alamos Public Schools with the specific intention of collaboration on greenhouse gas reduction;
• Revise and implement a County-wide “no idling” policy with shaded parking options;
• Set a community goal to reduce natural gas use by at least 2 percent per year;
• Increase the number of electric vehicles in the County fleet by at least two per year; and
• Advocate for change or clarification of the state’s anti-donation clause to allow local governments to provide incentives for energy reduction projects.

Ultimately, council approved the recommendations but removed the following as they were included in the 2024 County Council Strategic Leadership Goals:

• Set a community goal to reduce natural gas use by at least 2 percent per year;
• Establish a net-zero greenhouse gas emissions as a long-term goal for Los Alamos, both the community (exclusive of LANL) and its government; and
• Formalize the BPU/DPU and Los Alamos County Council goal to be a net-zero carbon electricity supplier by 2035.

Councilor Randall Ryti suggested removing these statements, saying that specifics are not needed now.

Council Vice Chair Theresa Cull said the recommendations are being made now, ahead of approving the climate action plan, is that “the intent of these recommendations being put forward now is to ask our County staff to come back with actions in January to address these recommendations.”

“We don’t want to wait until the action plan is developed,” she added. “The climate action plan will do a walk-through of the recommendations from LARES and identify some actions the county should take. We believe these are things that could be initiated now and should be initiated now.”

Reagor opposed the recommendations, pointing out several renewable energy projects have suffered setbacks and cancellations such as the Carbon Free Power Project. He also questioned whether climate change was even an issue.

Gurule said Monday that these recommendations will be helpful in mitigating climate change.

“The actions will help jump start our work on mitigating climate change and improving how we interact with our environment,” she said.

Regardless of whether individuals believe in climate change, Gurule pointed out most care about the environment.

“My perspective is whether you believe in climate change or not, we can all agree that we should care for our environment,” she said. “I think that as technology advances it presents opportunities to change the way we live. We can make better lifestyle choices to reduce our environmental impact”

With the willpower and a plan, Gurule said she feels confident that the County could be a leader in protecting the environment.