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Riverstone South EAW <br />Draft — December 2020 <br />Common GHG greenhouse gas emissions include CO2, CH4, N2O. GHG emissions are customarily <br />converted to carbon dioxide equivalents (CO2e) using global warming conversion factors to <br />represent the global warming potential over 100 years, equivalent to one ton of CO2 derived from <br />fossil fuel. <br />GHG emissions are expected to result from: <br />1. Operation of petroleum fueled equipment during project construction; <br />2. Use of natural gas and other fossil fuels used for heating homes; <br />3. Fossil fuels burned to generate electricity used at the project during construction and <br />operation; <br />4. Vehicle and air transportation related to project construction and operation; <br />5. Transport, treatment, and storage of solid waste and wastewater produced onsite; <br />6. Loss of carbon sequestration due to conversion of natural vegetation to developed and paved <br />surfaces; and <br />7. Refrigeration, air conditioning, and the related manufacturing, service, and leakage of <br />equipment. <br />GHG emissions from this project, while unquantified, are not expected to cause potential for <br />significant environmental effects because this is a discretionary EAW, the project does not trip any <br />other mandatory EAW thresholds, and there are no available GHG emission estimates that show a <br />comparably sized Minnesota project with potential to exceed the mandatory EAW threshold of <br />100,000 tons of CO2e per year (Minnesota Rules Part 4410.4300, Subp. 15.B.). <br />Mitigation and adaption measures could help the project lessen the impacts of climate change and <br />GHG emissions. Such measures may include: <br />1. Use energy efficient building materials that reduce needs for home heating and cooling. <br />2. Install energy star appliances and programable thermostats (already assumed). <br />3. Install smart irrigation, or no irrigation at all, to reduce outdoor water use (many Minnesota <br />lawns now stay green all summer long without irrigation) . <br />4. Encourage residents to sign up for utility -sponsored renewable energy programs, such as <br />renewable connect or windsource. <br />5. Install high-albedo (reflective) roofing materials that reflect the sun's UV rays and save <br />energy needed to cool buildings. <br />6. Plant some turf to no -mow fine fescue mixes or native prairie/pollinator gardens to decrease <br />mowing and increase carbon sequestration. <br />7. Encourage residents to sign up for utility -sponsored renewable energy programs, such as <br />renewable connect or windsource. <br />26 <br />