lb CITY OF SOUTH BEND OFFICE OF THE CLERK
<br /> fortunately mine is not finished, but this is another impact pathway for South Bend is basement
<br /> flooding. If we look at future projections, then, for the St. Joseph River, this again shows us that
<br /> these patterns of increasing risk are likely to continue. By the 2080s, again, for the RCP eight-
<br /> point five(8.5) scenario, the ensemble mean shows a forty-five percent(45%) increase in the one
<br /> hundred (100) year event for the St. Joseph River. This suggests that these events that were once
<br /> the 2,500-year event are now much more frequent.
<br /> He continued, Snow Days are likely to decline. So, we track the number of days above two (2)
<br /> inches and this has some important implications. Reduced effort in cost associated with snow
<br /> removal, so again, some good news there. Probably fewer school closures due to snow impact,
<br /> fewer transportation impacts but there may also be loss of winter recreation activities. In particular,
<br /> downhill skiing seems to be in high jeopardy. To close, heating demand we expect, not
<br /> surprisingly,to go down in the winter time with warmer temperature. We see in St. Joseph County
<br /> and throughout the State, perhaps, a thirty percent (30%) reduction in heating degree days which
<br /> is a measure of how much energy is lost from structures due to temperatures being colder than
<br /> sixty-eight (68) degrees Fahrenheit. Whereas cooling demand goes up quite substantially,
<br /> multiplied by a factor of four(4).Together,though,these result in lower energy use by most people
<br /> in Indiana.
<br /> He went on,These are some of the impact pathways there. We may have problems with increased
<br /> electrical demand in summer. For example,needing more capacity and grid reliability to be found.
<br /> As I mentioned, about a five percent (5%) reduction in annual energy cost for consumers and
<br /> businesses related to the fact we have thirty percent(30%)lower in the winter,which is our largest
<br /> cost,but strong increases in summer. I won't go through all these conclusions which I think I have
<br /> covered. I thank you very much for your attention.
<br /> Co-Committee Chair Broden stated, Thank you very much. Just a note, all of these PowerPoints
<br /> will be available for the public (available in the City Clerk's Office). She then called a five (5)
<br /> minute recess at 6:40 p.m.
<br /> The Joint Health and Public Safety and Utilities Committee reconvened at 6:45 p.m.
<br /> Therese Dorau, Director of the Office of Sustainability for the City of South Bend with offices
<br /> located on the 13th floor of the County-City Building, stated, I want to, now that we have been
<br /> introduced to the basics of climate science and the expected impacts here in South Bend, I wanted
<br /> to share a little bit about where these greenhouse gases are coming from(referencing a presentation
<br /> which is available in the City Clerks' Office) here in South Bend, specifically, and how we know
<br /> that. Some of this is a little technical so I might gloss over some parts, but we can come back to
<br /> those in a further conversation,just to make up some of our time.
<br /> She continued, So, a greenhouse gas inventory is basically an accounting exercise that measures
<br /> the activities that cause emissions and then estimates the quantity of greenhouse gases from each
<br /> of those activities. Like all accounting exercises, this provides municipal insight into how an
<br /> organization is functioning. Also, like accounting exercises, it has a thick rule book, right and
<br /> wrong,high quality and low-quality approaches. So, the value of a greenhouse gas inventory, and
<br /> I'm really focusing on the value from a decision-making perspective, is that is creates a baseline
<br /> that allows us to track changes and trends in emissions over time. It also helps us better understand
<br /> the sources of greenhouse gases and the impacts, locally, and then identify the best emissions
<br /> EXCELLENCE ACCOUNTABILITY INNOVATION INCLUSION EMPOWERMENT
<br /> 455 County-City Building 227W Jefferson Bvld South Bend,Indiana 46601 p 574.235.9221 f574.235.9173 TID574.235.5567 www.southbendin.gov
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