PGW Climate Change Analysis

Looking at the effects of our changing climate at three major PGW sites

Pennoni

Sustainability and Resiliency Planning

“Our Nation’s aging and deteriorating infrastructure is further stressed by increases in heavy precipitation events, coastal flooding, heat, wildfires, and other extreme events, as well as changes to average precipitation and temperature. Without adaptation, climate change will continue to degrade infrastructure performance over the rest of the century, with the potential for cascading impacts that threaten our economy, national security, essential services, and health and well-being.”

 -U.S Global Research Program

01 / 21

Assessing the effects of climate change at the following locations:

Richmond Plant

Passyunk Plant/Porter Station, 2801-2899 W Porter St

Main Office Building, 800 W. Montgomery Ave

 

Future analysis and data were incorporated from local, state and federal sources, including NOAA, FEMA, DEP related to the following:

Sea Level Rise

Extreme Weather Events

Temperature Change

Air Quality

Sea Level Rise

· Sea level rise predictions by NOAA for Philadelphia ranges from intermediate low of 1.02 ft to an extreme high of 3.35 ft

NOAA Sea Level Rise Projections

Extreme Weather Events

· Increased storm intensity

· Excessive drought

· Increase elevation for 100-year and 500-year floodplain

· Increased precipitation (see chart to the right)

Temperature Change

· Predicted increase in average summer high temperatures up to 5 degrees Fahrenheit 

· Predicted increase in winter low temperatures up to 4.3 degrees Fahrenheit

· Predicted increase in excessive heat days

Air Quality

· Philadelphia Air Management Services monitors air quality in Philadelphia    

· Increase risk of air pollution  

· Increase regulation requirements 

· Could pose health risk to employees

Richmond Plant

Sea Level Rise

    Present:

    • Limited risk conditions exist, site is generally 4 feet above current sea level
    • Some equipment at or below grade 
    • Main operations and administration building has a basement and windows at grade
    • Maintenance garage is at grade

    Future:

    • Slight risk of flooding in low-lying areas (see green on map)
    • NOAA predicts sea levels to rise 1 to 3 feet by 2050 
    • Impact of shipping LNG on the Delaware River
    • Increased probably of site flooding

Extreme Weather Events

    Present:

    • Limited risk conditions exist 
    • Barometric pressure drops, as experienced during super storm Sandy impact the gasification rate of liquid natural gas (LNG) 
    • 100 Year Floodplain (Light Blue) / 500 year Floodplain (Dark Blue)
    • Minor history of windstorms (see pink lines in map)
    • No flooding has been observed in recent years

    Future:

    • Increased storm intensity and frequency
    • Power generation sustainability and protection
    • Enhanced building code requirements
    • Enhanced land development regulations
    • Enhanced stormwater control requirements

Temperature Change

    Present:

    • Increased storm intensity and frequency
    • Site is located around an urban heat island (see map to the right)
    • No site trees
    • Warmer winter days increase gasification of LNG

    Future:

    • Extended periods of extreme temperatures
    • Increased freeze\thaw deterioration of infrastructure
    • Higher average winter temperatures
    • Increase stress on cooling systems to perform as designed

Air Quality

Present:

2018 Emissions:

•Pb: 0.000

•CO: 2.611

•NOX: 5.953

•PM10: 0.272

•PM2.5: 0.237

•SO2: 0.027

•VOC: 0.214

Future:

•Improve air quality output

Passyunk Plant/Porter Station

Sea Level Rise

    Present:

    • Limited risk conditions exist, site is generally 24 feet above current sea level
    • Some equipment at or below grade 

    Future:

    • No additional impact

Extreme Weather Events

    Present:

    • Limited risk conditions exist 
    • Local low-lying areas depend on sump pump discharge
    • 100 Year Floodplain (Light Blue) / 500 year Floodplain (Dark Blue)
    • Some history of windstorms (see pink lines in map)

    Future:

    • Enhanced building code requirements
    • Enhanced stormwater control requirements

Temperature Change

    Present:

    • Limited risk conditions exist 
    • Site presently located in Urban Heat Island which means the temperature is often higher than nearby areas due to site surfaces absorbing and holding heat (see right)
    • Few site trees

    Future:

    • Extended periods of extreme temperatures
    • Increased freeze\thaw deterioration of infrastructure
    • Increase stress on cooling systems to perform as designed

Air Quality

Present:

2018 Emissions:

•Pb: 0.000

•CO: 2.328

•NOX: 3.741

•PM10: 0.297

•PM2.5: 0.255

•SO2: 0.077

•VOC: 0.327

Future:

•Improve air quality output

800 W. Montgomery

Sea Level Rise

    Present:

    • Limited risk conditions exist because site is well above current sea level

    Future:

    • No impact

Extreme Weather Events

    Present:

    • Limited risk conditions exist

    Future:

    • Enhanced building code requirements
    • Enhanced stormwater control requirements

Temperature Change

    Present:

    • Low risk conditions exist
    • Site presently located in Urban Heat Island which means the temperature is often higher than nearby areas due to site surfaces absorbing and holding heat (see right)
    • Site trees in parking area
    • Redundancy in cooling system to prevent inability to cool network facilities

    Future:

    • Extended periods of extreme temperatures
    • Increased freeze\thaw deterioration of infrastructure
    • Increase stress on cooling systems to perform as designed

Air Quality

Present:

•Limited risk conditions exist

•No 2018 Emissions available

Future:

•Improve air quality output

Conclusions

  • Limited risk of physical impacts of climate change at sites
  • Even though site has not seen significant flooding, the risk at Richmond Plant is slightly higher that other site because it is currently in the 100-year floodplain
  • Backup power has been accounted for at all three sites

    • As climate change escalates there will be a change to the following:

    • Building code regulations
    • Air quality regulations
    • Possible Increased health issues for employees
    • Access to sites and transportation systems could be limited due to flooding or extreme weather events

“Forward-looking infrastructure design, planning, and operational measures and standards can reduce exposure and vulnerability to the impacts of climate change and reduce energy use while providing additional near-term benefits, including reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.” - U.S Global Research Program

NOAA Sea Level Rise Projections