Item 28 - Public Hearing - ZOA No. 20204-01 South Coast Technology Center

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South Coast Technology Center Project CEQA Exemption 15183 Refrigerants. Refrigerants are substances used in equipment for air conditioning and refrigeration. Most of the refrigerants used today are hydrofluorocarbons or blends thereof, which can have high global warming potential values. All equipment that uses refrigerants has a charge size (i.e., quantity of refrigerant the equipment contains), and an operational refrigerant leak rate, and each refrigerant has a global warming potential that is specific to that refrigerant. CalEEMod quantifies refrigerant emissions from leaks during regular operation and routine servicing over the equipment lifetime, and then derives average annual emissions from the lifetime estimate. The use of refrigerants in the existing buildings currently generates approximately 0.07 MTCO2e of emissions per year while the proposed Project would generate approximately 14.00 MTCO2e of emissions per year; refer to Table 4.8-1 and Table 4.8-2. As such, the net increase in GHG emissions from refrigerants would be approximately 13.93 MTCO2e of emissions per year. Indirect Project -Related Sources of Greenhouse Gases Energy Consumption. The proposed Project would construct and operate three new Class A industrial buildings for office, manufacturing, and/or warehouse use. According to the Project applicant, the proposed buildings would not consume natural gas during operation. Additionally, according to the Project applicant, the proposed Project would exceed the most current Title 24 (i.e., 2022 Title 24) by approximately 10 percent; however, as a conservative analysis, this project design feature was not incorporated in the modeling. The 2022 Title 24 provides minimum efficiency standards related to various building features, including appliances, water and space heating and cooling equipment, building insulation and roofing, and lighting. Additionally, the Project would also include solar -ready roofs for all buildings. The energy consumption of the existing buildings currently generates approximately 1,134.00 MTCO2e of emissions per year while the energy consumption of the proposed Project would generate approximately 1,381.00 MTCO2e of emissions per year; refer to Table 4.8-1 and Table 4.8-2. As such, the net increase in GHG emissions from energy consumption would be approximately 247.00 MTCO2e of emissions per year. Water Demand. According to CaIEEMod, the existing buildings consume approximately 31,641,228 gallons of indoor water per year, and 1,040,873 gallons of outdoor water per year (i.e., for landscaping). The Project would consume approximately 67,762,532 gallons of indoor water per year, and 593,833 gallons of outdoor water per year (i.e., for landscaping). The Project would install water -efficient irrigation systems and drought -tolerant landscaping, as accounted for in CalEEMod. The existing water demand currently generates approximately 96.60 MTCO2e of emissions per year while the water demand for the proposed Project would generate approximately 205.00 MTCO2e of emissions per year; refer to Table 4.8-1 and Table 4.8-2. As such, the net increase in GHG emissions from water demand would be approximately 108.40 MTCO2e of emissions per year. Solid Waste. The existing buildings currently generate approximately 51.70 MTCO2e of emissions per year from solid waste while the proposed Project would generate approximately 31.50 MTCO2e of emissions per year; refer to Table 4.8-1 and Table 4.8-2. As such, the net change in GHG emissions from solid waste would result in a net decrease of 20.20 MTCO2e of emissions per year (i.e., the proposed project would result in less emissions from solid waste than the existing conditions). July 2024 Page 55