Tumwater’s greenhouse gas emissions fell by less than 1% from 2015-23 

Tumwater’s city operations generated around 3,821 metric tons of equivalent carbon dioxide (CO₂e) in 2023, which is less than 1% less than in 2015, according to a sustainability report presented by Sustainability Coordinator Alyssa Jones Wood to the city council on Tuesday, November 26. 

Forty-two percent of the city’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions came from its water infrastructure, which grew by 10% compared to 2015 due to increased water production, followed by the city’s vehicle fleet at 19% and the city's buildings and facilities at 18%. 

Emissions were 29% lower compared to 2015 in metric tons of CO₂e per capita.  

The city aims to reduce its GHG emissions by 45% by 2030 and 85% by 2050 compared to 2015 levels. 

The city uses 2015 as its baseline year to track its emissions. The city uses 2019 as its baseline year for all other metrics in the report. 

Net emissions

The city’s net emissions data paint a different picture. Net emissions, which the city describes as total emissions minus offsets or renewable energy credits, were down by 73% compared to 2015, which is already within the city’s 2030 reduction goal. 

Net emissions are down as the city participates in Puget Sound Energy’s Green Direct program, which allows it to offset its emissions through renewable energy certificates.  

Tumwater is currently updating its comprehensive plan and plans to include a new goal of bringing down net emissions to zero by 2050 in alignment with state reduction goals. 

Fuel consumption 

According to the report, the city’s vehicle fleet has consumed “virtually no change” since the baseline year of 2019. Still, the city started using renewable diesel for the first time in 2023 to fuel its street sweepers.  

Renewable diesel is fuel derived from food waste and cooking oils, such as soybean or canola, processed to be used in the same ways as petroleum diesel.

Jones Wood added that the city has since replaced all of the diesel in its fuel stations with renewable diesel, so fossil fuel consumption may decrease in 2024. 

Regarding fleet composition, 7% are electric vehicles, and 9% are hybrid vehicles, compared to 1% and 5%, respectively, in 2019. 

A 2023 fleet assessment shows that 51% of the non-police fleet could be electrified by 2030 and possibly 18% more with grant funding.  

Electrifying the police fleet is dependent on when pursuit-rated EVs become commercially available. However, assuming they become available in the next few years, the assessment projects that the city could electrify 48% of the police fleet while 30% could be hybrid vehicles by 2030. 

Natural gas consumption 

Natural gas consumption in city facilities grew by 5% compared to 2019, excluding the golf course. 

Due to changes at the River's Edge Restaurant, which is located at the city-owned Tumwater Valley Golf Club, gas consumption at the golf course grew by 277% from 2022 to 2023.  

Jones Wood explained that the HVAC system’s outdoor air intake was disconnected, leaving staff to heat the kitchen with gas stoves. 

A 2023 invest-grade audit found that the city could alleviate the issue by spending $60,000. Overall, the audit found $4.5 million worth of projects the city could pursue to reduce GHG emissions by around 3% compared to the baseline. 

Solid waste 

City operations produced around 331,185 lbs. of solid waste in 2023, which the report shows is below the city’s 2030 goal.  

The city diverted 25% of the waste for recycling or composting, which Jones Wood said is more than average of what other cities do. 

She also noted that the city cannot do a format waste audit due to the costs involved, so they only estimate waste based on weight and collection frequency. 

Progress toward other goals 

Electricity usage was up by 16% from 2019. The city aims to reduce electricity usage by 30% by 2030. 

Water usage was up by 15% from 2019, mainly because Brewery Park at Tumwater Falls was initially not factored in the baseline year. According to the report, the city’s goal is to reduce water usage by 3% per year.