The energy and conservation component of the Comprehensive Plan update will provide an in-depth review of local energy production. It will establish a baseline of local energy production, including methods of production and the levels of emissions associated with those methods, and establish policy direction for future energy production, pollution and emissions reduction goals, and environmental conservation.
We presented draft research questions at the first focus group meeting in February 2017. Based on feedback we got at that meeting we finalized the research questions in April. After conducting research to answer these questions and looking at best practices for energy topics in comprehensive plans, we developed draft Energy & Conservation policies. We presented these draft policies at the June 2017 focus group meeting and are currently working on gathering more feedback from the public and community partners, revising the policies, and beginning to draft implementation strategies for each policy. Goals are broad topic areas we think this section of comprehensive plan should focus on. The 13 policies listed below are more specific ideas that can help us achieve the goals. Implementation strategies, which we have not drafted yet, are actions we can take to implement the policies.
Draft policies as of 12/13/17:
Policy 1: Increase community involvement in decisions about energy and infrastructure investments.
Policy 2: Provide incentives for developers to encourage green buildings and renewable energy use in new residential and commercial buildings.
Policy 3: Incentivize commercial, anchor institution, and large residential building/facility owners to reduce energy use and increase energy efficiency in existing buildings/facilities and community gathering spaces.
Policy 4: Incentivize households and landlords to reduce energy use and increase residential energy efficiency.
Policy 5: Encourage community-wide investment in appropriate local renewable energy sources, including solar, wind, and biomass.
Policy 6: Adopt energy efficiency and energy saving targets for City owned facilities and City operations.
Policy 7: Increase efficiency of utilities and services.
See the complete draft of policies and strategies.
Next Meeting: TBA
June 21, 2017
February 9, 2017