Energy Plans 101107 - San Diego Association of Governments3. The County will continue the use of bio-diesel in county buses and other county vehicles and will seek to increase the

File Number 3003002

BACKGROUND REPORT ON REGIONAL ENERGY PLANS

October 11, 2007

ii Background Report on Regional Energy Plans

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

The 18 cities and county government are SANDAG serving as the forum

for regional decision-making. SANDAG builds consensus; plans, engineers, and builds public transit; makes strategic plans; obtains and allocates resources; and provides information on a

broad range of topics pertinent to the region’s quality of life.

CHAIR Hon. Mary Teresa Sessom

FIRST VICE CHAIR Hon. Lori Holt Pfeiler

SECOND VICE CHAIR Hon. Jerome Stocks

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Gary L. Gallegos

CITY OF CARLSBAD Hon. Matt Hall, Councilmember (A) Hon. Bud Lewis, Mayor (A) Hon. Ann Kulchin, Mayor Pro Tem CITY OF CHULA VISTA Hon. Cheryl Cox, Mayor (A) Hon. Jerry Rindone, Deputy Mayor (A) Hon. John McCann, Councilmember CITY OF CORONADO Hon. Phil Monroe, Councilmember (A) Hon. Carrie Downey, Mayor Pro Tem (A) Hon. Al Ovrom, Councilmember CITY OF DEL MAR Hon. Crystal Crawford, Councilmember (A) Hon. David Druker, Deputy Mayor (A) Hon. Henry Abarbanel, Councilmember CITY OF EL CAJON Hon. Mark Lewis, Mayor (A) Hon. Jillian Hanson-Cox, Councilmember CITY OF ENCINITAS Hon. Jerome Stocks, Deputy Mayor (A) Hon. Teresa Barth, Councilmember CITY OF ESCONDIDO Hon. Lori Holt Pfeiler, Mayor (A) Hon. Ed Gallo, Councilmember (A) Hon. Sam Abed, Mayor Pro Tem CITY OF IMPERIAL BEACH Hon. Jim Janney, Mayor (A) Hon. Patricia McCoy, Councilmember (A) Hon. Mayda Winter, Mayor Pro Tem CITY OF LA MESA Hon. Art Madrid, Mayor (A) Hon. David Allan, Councilmember (A) Hon. Mark Arapostathis, Councilmember CITY OF LEMON GROVE Hon. Mary Teresa Sessom, Mayor (A) Hon. Jerry Jones, Councilmember (A) Hon. Jerry Selby, Councilmember CITY OF NATIONAL CITY Hon. Ron Morrison, Mayor (A) Hon. Frank Parra, Councilmember (A) Hon. Louie Natividad, Councilmember CITY OF OCEANSIDE Hon. Jim Wood, Mayor (A) Hon. Jerry Kern, Councilmember (A) Hon. Jack Feller, Councilmember CITY OF POWAY Hon. Mickey Cafagna, Mayor (A) Hon. Robert Emery, Councilmember (A) Hon. Don Higginson, Councilmember CITY OF SAN DIEGO Hon. Jerry Sanders, Mayor Hon. Toni Atkins, Councilmember (A) Hon. Jim Madaffer, Councilmember (A) Hon. Scott Peters, Council President CITY OF SAN MARCOS Hon. Jim Desmond, Mayor (A) Hon. Hal Martin, Vice Mayor (A) Hon. Rebecca Jones, Councilmember

CITY OF SANTEE Hon. Jack Dale, Councilmember (A) Hon. Hal Ryan, Councilmember (A) Hon. John Minto, Councilmember CITY OF SOLANA BEACH Hon. Lesa Heebner, Mayor (A) Hon. Dave Roberts, Councilmember (A) Hon. Mike Nichols, Councilmember CITY OF VISTA Hon. Judy Ritter, Mayor Pro Tem (A) Hon. Bob Campbell, Councilmember (A) Hon. Steve Gronke, Councilmember COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO Hon. Ron Roberts, Chairman Hon. Bill Horn, Supervisor (A) Hon. Greg Cox, Vice Chairman (A) Hon. Dianne Jacob, Chair Pro Tem IMPERIAL COUNTY (Advisory Member) Hon. Victor Carrillo, Chairman (A) Hon. David Ouzan, Councilmember CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION (Advisory Member) Will Kempton, Director (A) Pedro Orso-Delgado, District 11 Director METROPOLITAN TRANSIT SYSTEM (Advisory Member) Harry Mathis, Chairman (A) Hon. Jerry Rindone, Vice Chairman (A) Hon. Bob Emery, Board Member NORTH COUNTY TRANSIT DISTRICT (Advisory Member) Hon. Ed Gallo, Chairman (A) Hon. Jerome Stocks, Planning Committee Chair (A) Hon. David Druker, Monitoring Committee Chair U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE (Advisory Member) CAPT Steve Wirsching, USN, CEC, Southwest Division Naval Facilities Engineering Command (A) CAPT Robert Farley, USN, CEC Southwest Division Naval Facilities Engineering Command SAN DIEGO UNIFIED PORT DISTRICT (Advisory Member) Sylvia Rios, Chair (A) Michael Bixler, Commissioner SAN DIEGO COUNTY WATER AUTHORITY (Advisory Member) Marilyn Dailey, Commissioner (A) Mark Muir, Commissioner (A) Gary Croucher, Commissioner SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA TRIBAL CHAIRMEN’S ASSOCIATION (Advisory Member) Chairman Robert Smith (Pala), SCTCA Chair (A) Chairman Allen Lawson (San Pasqual) MEXICO (Advisory Member) Hon. Ricardo Pineda Actino Cónsul General of Mexico

As of September 27, 2007

Background Report on Regional Energy Plans iii

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Executive Summary................................................................................................................................................. 1

Recommendations.................................................................................................................................................. 2

King County, Washington ...................................................................................................................................... 3

Chula Vista, California ............................................................................................................................................ 5

Local Government Commission (California) ............................................................................................................ 6

Marin County, California ........................................................................................................................................ 7

Southern California Association of Governments.................................................................................................... 8

New York State .................................................................................................................................................... 11

Santa Monica, California ...................................................................................................................................... 13

Selected Best Practices – Energy Supply ................................................................................................................ 15

Selected Best Practices – Energy Efficiency and Conservation................................................................................ 16

Selected Best Practices – Education, Collaboration, and Advocacy ........................................................................ 17

Background Report on Regional Energy Plan 1

Executive Summary The following regions have demonstrated a strong interest in energy use reduction and emphasis on renewable resources and energy efficiency. For this reason, they were chosen to inform SANDAG’s update of its own Regional Energy Strategy (RES), and to provide some models for other regions considering an energy planning document. This document is arranged by region and further broken down into four descriptive categories: Background and Highlights, Analytical Foundation, Strategies and Goals, and Implementation. A partial list of best practices follows at the end of the document. The regions vary in geographic size, population, climate, governmental and regulatory oversight, and community interest in energy conservation and sustainable practices. Urban centers like Santa Monica are included, as well as larger regions such as Marin County and New York State. Cooler climates like King County, Washington are included, as well as warmer regions like Chula Vista, California. Typically, in the northern regions of California, emphasis on sustainable practices and being “green” is greater than in Southern California; however, the energy strategies developed in Southern Californian cities and counties signify that throughout the state (and beyond), interest in energy efficiency and sustainability is growing each year.

Background and Highlights

While it is not currently mandatory for regions to create an energy strategy, many of them recognize the need to not only develop energy strategies, but also to combine energy efficiency and conservation efforts with other sectors, namely land use and transportation planning. For each plan, the document should begin with the rationale that led to its creation. In a majority of these strategies, coordination with other issue areas and a holistic approach to regional planning was cited as the force that drove the document. This assists the reader in achieving a broader understanding of the issue before drilling down to more specific strategies for success.

Analytical Approaches

To provide credibility to each energy strategy, a list of resources and strategies used to compile it should be stated. The best example of a thorough resource listing, as well as sufficient source information, was provided by the Southern California Association of Governments. They devoted sections of their document to an overview of their Regional Comprehensive Plan and scope of work, as well as current usage rates for electricity, natural gas, and petroleum. Next, they formulated their “Where Do We Go From Here?” section based on analysis of the current energy situation in conjunction with the impacts and emissions caused by those energy sources. This was the basis for their recommendations, goals, and strategies.

Strategies and Goals

Goals for the energy plans focused on energy efficiency, building code compliance, and integration of energy, transportation, and water issues. While it is understandable to pursue the “low-hanging fruit” like energy savings from municipal facilities improvements, these are just the first steps toward sustainability. The most ambitious plans also address strategies for general public, business-oriented, sector-related, and other educational projects to encourage broader pursuit of energy goals.

2 Background Report on Regional Energy Plans

Implementation

For any recommendations to be implemented, the plan needs to be laid out with specific methods by which success can be achieved. An example of a thorough implementation plan was established in the Chula Vista Plan. Along with each clearly defined goal, the rationale for the goal was listed, followed by specific implementation strategies. Another effective tool was used in this report that distinguished it from others: the use of specified timeframes and agencies responsible for each result. Recommendations

The following recommendations will be considered in the development of SANDAG’s RES Update:

Actionable Strategies. Within each document there were limited specific goals to be reached and actions to be undertaken. Strategies were often framed in the more ambiguous language of “should” and “could” instead of the directive “shall” and “must.” The most relevant and effective plans will establish binding policy that can be acted upon for each topic area.

Cross-sector Collaboration and Education. Some of the plans underestimated the importance of outreach to different sectors and leveraging cross-sector partnerships. More emphasis should be placed on education through businesses and business associations, non-profit organizations, and building industry participants.

Implementation Timetables. While in some cases it is impossible to set a hard and fast deadline for strategy implementation, the open-ended approach often leads to unmet goals at the end of the planning horizon. Establishing timetables or benchmarks will help focus attention on implementation in an ongoing manner.

Best Practices Guides. Best practices guides for local governments were not included in any of the plans. A best practices guide at the beginning or end of the document would be helpful as a resource for local energy plans or energy elements.

Background Report on Regional Energy Plans 3

King County, Washington


King County states its commitment to being a leader in renewable energy and environmental mitigation. The plan cites climate change and dependence on foreign oil as reasons to increase the County’s participation in renewable energy markets and energy efficiency measures. Specifically, it addresses requirements for King County’s government operations. A “Renewable Energy Order” was signed by County Executive Ron Simms on April 1, 2006, mandating the following:

1. At least 50 percent of King County’s total non-transit energy use will be obtained from renewable energy sources by the year 2012.

2. At least 35 percent of transit energy use will be obtained from efficiencies and renewable energy sources by 2015.

3. At least 50 percent of transit energy use will be obtained from efficiencies and renewable energy sources by 2020.

An inventory of all energy purchases and needs within County operations was performed, to serve as an agreed-upon baseline for measuring improvements. In addition, an Energy Taskforce was established, staffed by three existing county departments whose job it would be to address and achieve each goal. This collaborative process, in part, created the need for the energy strategy. The plan can be found online at:

www.metrokc.gov/exec/news/2007/pdf/EnergyPlan.pdf

Analytical Foundation

The document is based on previous successes in the county with respect to renewable energy, conservation, and overall sustainability. Landfill gas capture, use of bio-diesel, and efficiency improvements were some of the successful initiatives that formed the basis for a strategic plan going forward. As plan implementation progresses, the Energy Taskforce assesses plan performance. The plan defines specific, quantifiable goals to be reached based on the current amount of energy used for each County function, such as transit or water resources.


Each of the following goals applies only to County operations and facilities; they do not address individual actions in the community. Actions that individuals can take are provided in the climate change section of the county Web site. The energy conservation program consists of three goals:

1. Lead in the use of climate friendly, renewable energy sources and achieving the goals of the Renewable Energy Order. (Executive Order described above)

2. Maximize the conversion of waste-to-energy.

3. Lead in energy efficiency by achieving a 10 percent per square foot reduction in county energy usage by 2012.


The County’s Renewable Energy Order states that the county needs to take the following general measures to meet its goals:

1. The County will seek to maximize the conversion and use of waste for energy.

2. The County will transition to purchasing electricity produced from renewable sources either from the local utilities serving county facilities or other providers.

3. The County will continue the use of bio-diesel in county buses and other county vehicles and will seek to increase the amount of bio-diesel used.

4. The County will implement a program to minimize existing energy use through increased efficiency, optimized operation and maintenance, and conservation efforts.

Implementation

Implementation actions are associated with each goal. The plan will be carried out by an Energy Taskforce who will monitor progress, suggest additional strategies for renewables and energy efficiency coordinate inter-agency efforts on energy, and advise other government agencies.


Chula Vista, California


The City of Chula Vista City Council approved an energy plan called the “Energy Strategy and Action Plan” in 2001. Chula Vista contracted with MRW and Associates to create an eight-component strategy for energy management that will advance the interests of residents and businesses in the areas of energy conservation, supply, and procurement. MRW and Associates also identified management practices for successful implementation of energy programs and strategies. The City of Chula Vista also took steps to become a municipal utility. The plans for this endeavor are described throughout the document.


The data obtained by MRW for developing the plan was used to create a timeline of energy events in California from 1996-2001. It appears that MRW used the regulatory and consumption data collected for this period and produced a “market outlook” which outlines short, mid- and long-term market trends for the city.


Chula Vista’s plan is separated into eight goals addressing energy supply, energy conservation, and policy advocacy. The plan emphasizes municipal aggregation and purchasing of electricity, as well as development of municipal generating facilities and ownership of transmission infrastructure. A goal is established for municipal energy conservation and promotion of energy efficiency in the community. Finally, the plan suggests a legislative strategy, including the following “support” and “oppose” categories.

1. Support measures that: a. Assist the City and its energy consumers, improve supply/demand conditions, and enhance

conservation measures; b. Preserve local options to control and fund the supply and distribution of energy or that fund

conservation programs; c. Enhance the City’s ability to enter into distributed generation agreements without having to pay

stranded transmission or distribution charges; d. Impose fair and reasonable wholesale price caps; e. Repeal the provision in Assembly Bill 1X that suspends customer choice and pass a favorable bill

for customer choice; f. Make municipal aggregation programs available on an opt out basis; g. Allow public agencies such as the City to participate in state power supply programs; h. Encourage use of real time metering; and i. Increase incentives for PV and other alternative energy sources.

2. Oppose measures that: a. Impinge on or restrict the City’s ability to exercise land use review/control with respect to the

generation or transmission of power; and b. Erode the City’s ability to acquire/generate power from alternative sources, operate as a

municipal utility, or enter into aggregation and/or distributed generation arrangements.


Local Government Commission (California)


While the Local Government Commission (LGC) is not county- or region-specific, it addresses the needs of many of California’s local elected officials and other community leaders interested in resource-efficient communities. The LGC's membership is composed of local elected officials, city and county staff, planners, architects, and community leaders. The LGC has produced a publication specific to developing municipal energy efficiency measures and “Action Plans” for local energy programs. The LGC Web site also lists “Community Principles” or principles to foster resource-efficient communities.


The LGC convened a series of working group sessions designed to help develop a sustainable and transferable local government energy program structure and connect local government program administrators with their state-level counterparts.


The LGC plan identifies four key barriers to advancing shared state and local government energy goals. For each, goals and actions are established to overcome the barrier. The barriers are as follows:

1. Conflicting state energy policies and programs.

2. Lack of communication between and among local and state government agencies and decision-makers on energy issues of common interest.

3. Need for education for local elected officials and staff regarding energy policy, programs, and technologies.

4. Lack of local government resources to develop and sustain local energy programs. In keeping with the mission of the LGC, the plan’s goals focus on collaboration and education to surmount these challenges.

Implementation

Implementation measures include the development of networking tools such as listservs and Web-based forums, as well as ongoing meetings, workshops, and information sharing relationships. Education and policy measures also are identified, including the creation of joint policy recommendations, white papers, and briefing papers.


Marin County, California


Marin County does not have a dedicated energy plan to date; instead, their energy efficiency and sustainability goals come from the “Fossil Free by 33” Vision Plan. This document indicates ways in which the County can maximize their use of renewable energy, energy efficiency, and conservation measures. Individual sections of the publication address the negative environmental, economic, and public health effects of fossil fuel dependency, and offer strategies to mitigate these effects. Marin County’s Web site focuses on sustainability in an interactive checklist and snapshot of efforts throughout the County. Their SEE-IT (Social Environmental Economic Integration Toolkit) page leads organizations and individuals through practices undertaken in the County to promote sustainability, legislation, regulation, and planning information. The goal for the County is to not only emphasize energy efficiency and conservation methods, but to present a comprehensive sustainability vision. The SEE-IT toolkit can be found online at:

seeit.real-livingsolutions.com/see-it.cfm?clientkey=16B688BB

The Fossil Free by 33 Vision Plan is available online at:

www.co.marin.ca.us/depts/CD/main/comdev/advance/Sustainability/susinitiatives/fossil_free/pdf/Fossil_Free_Plan_1-29-07.pdf


To create the “Fossil Free by 33” Vision Plan, the County borrowed from a similar study done by the County of Santa Barbara. They also used information and data from the Union of Concerned Scientists, the County Agriculture and Open Space Preservation Department, the Municipal Water District, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Association for the Study of Peak Oil, the U.S. Geological Society, the Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Department of the Department of Energy, and the Electric Power Research Institute.


As implied by the title, the Vision Plan lays out a strategy for the county to use only non-fossil energy resources by 2033. Goals are established for the following areas:

Efficiency and Conservation Solar Wind Ocean Energy

Hybrids, Hydrogen, and Bio-fuels Waste to Energy Renewable Energy Credit (REC) Purchases

Implementation

On the County’s sustainability Web page, reports are posted with guidelines for green buildings, new and retrofit residential EE guidelines, code compliance contact information, and educational resources. The sustainability page also has links to solar incentive plans and education and has a “See It” viewer with displays of progress in each area. Environment, economy, and social equity are the three concepts that comprise Marin’s sustainability plan; energy is integrated into the “environment” concept.


Southern California Association of Governments


The Energy Chapter (a non-mandatory addition to Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG’s) 1990’s version of a Regional Comprehensive Plan, which included energy components) contains a comprehensive assessment of 18 local energy efficiency measures aimed to reduce costs, environmental impacts and security risks associated with energy demand. The measures focus on buildings and appliances, land use, movement of people, materials and information, and infrastructure. The assessment provides an evaluation of the efficiency measures’ impacts, including energy use and emissions avoided and included implementation strategies. The updated chapter includes background on Assembly Bill 1890 (restructuring bill) and forces that caused deregulation to fail and how SCAG will address their planning role amongst other players like the California Public Utilities Commission, the California Energy Commission and utilities. Within its 89 pages, the chapter also addresses transportation energy issues in context.


For the chapter, electricity use data were provided by the CEC, Southern California Edison (SCE), the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, and the Southern California Public Power Authority. Forecasts were presented to 2012 (per CEC data availability). The chapter also built on the previous energy chapters produced by SCAG. SCAG also solicited the assistance of a group of professionals from public, private, and non-profit organizations.


Policies established in the Plan include:

Continue to investigate the potential role of SCAG in coordinating such planning in conjunction with the closely related efforts of transportation planning, air quality planning, watershed planning, and growth visioning.

Continue to develop data on the implications of energy usage, especially on emissions of toxic air contaminants and green house gases and possibly for other media besides air.

Support state and local efforts to better coordinate demand side management programs and the development of overall energy policies and goals.

Work with the SCAG Growth Visioning and State of the Region processes, develop regional energy performance indicators and goals for those indicators.

In conjunction with the SCAG Growth Visioning process, conduct scenario analysis to compare the energy demand impacts of regional growth patterns evaluated, such as compact v. dispersed growth.

Further, investigate the potential benefits to the region from encouraging distributed energy resources, possibly by holding a conference for cities.

Conduct energy demand modeling for the SCAG region based on regional population, housing, and employment forecasts.


The document also reiterates practices recommended in their previous version of the energy element within the original RCP (shown as Appendix D-Efficiency Options Assessment). Within this document, 55 energy efficiency options were identified as potential measures that could be taken in the fields of buildings and appliances, land use, movement of people material and information, and infrastructure. These 55 measures were then reviewed for applicability and implementation potential, and narrowed to eighteen models for implementation. They are discussed next.

Implementation

Buildings and Appliances

Implement building efficiency measures that supplement Title 24, like heating, ventilation, and air conditioning duct testing, solar pool heating, day-lighting, and building commissioning.

Promote energy efficient behavior through public awareness campaigns on using efficient lighting and refrigerators, maintaining residential HVAC systems behavioral changes (e.g., turning off lights, using solar water heating, using energy efficient home office equipment).

Implement home energy rating systems and associated energy efficiency mortgage programs.

Address existing building stock through energy conservation ordinances applied at the time a building is sold or leased.

Increase compliance with existing Title 24 standards through training, incentives and inspection programs.

Land Use and Mobility

Adopt state standards that call for increased vehicle efficiencies (already included in federal and state statutes).

Implement one or more of a wide-range of incentives for using alternative fuels such as natural gas vehicles, oxygenated gasoline, flex-fuel vehicles, alternate fuel vehicles, and electric vehicles.

Implement ride sharing,park and ride, and high occupancy vehicle and bus lanes.

Promote telecommuting programs that reduce the number of trips per day per employee, with potential net reductions in congestion and air emissions.

Provide pedestrian and bicycle facilities within a pattern of compact, mixed-use, transit-oriented development.

Provide increased transit facilities within a pattern of compact, mixed-use, transit-oriented development.

Charge more for automobile travel that takes place at times of high congestion as a way of distributing travel over time and encouraging transit use.

Charge more for parking in congested destinations.

Encourage water conserving landscaping and site buildings to take advantage of prevailing winds, and use landscaping for shading.


Infrastructure

Reduce water consumption to decrease the energy needed for water and wastewater pumping and treatment.

Increase compositing as a means to reduce energy needed to transport and process solid waste.

Increase the efficiency of the processes used to collect and process recycled material.

Implement a variable rate system that would encourage reductions in waste generation and encourage composting.


New York State


The State of New York has an independent energy efficiency and energy program administrator called the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA). NYSERDA gets its funding through charges similar to the California Public Goods Charge (PGC) to administer these programs, as well as directly from utilities and federal and state grants. NYSERDA developed a three-year energy plan for the state called “Facing Energy Challenges in the 21st Century: A Three-Year Strategic Outlook 2006-2009.” The plan sets the stage for action in the state through its recommendations on marketing and economic development, as well as deployment of electricity resources and programs addressing energy efficiency, residential energy affordability, RD&D, and a nuclear waste disposal. The plan concludes with key administrative and support functions for NYSERDA to undertake to ensure its success. This strategy was approved by the state’s governor. The plan also emphasizes the economic and safety benefits of meeting its goals. NYSERDA asserts that reducing dependence on out-of-state and out-of-country energy resources will contribute to a more secure and resilient energy future for New York. The plan is available online at:

www.nyserda.org/Energy_Information/strategicplan.pdf.


NYSERDA’s 2007-2010 plan incorporates a number of rulings and plans, including:

System Benefits Charge Plan.

Renewable Portfolio Standard Program.

Con Edison System-Wide Demand Reduction Program.

Con Edison and National Grid Pilot Natural Gas Efficiency Programs .

Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI).


The plan places goals in the categories of energy efficiency services, residential energy affordability program, and RD&D programs. In addition to broad-based goals, each sub area in the energy sector has annual and tri-annual goals. These goals are non-binding recommendations for New York. The plan also describes efforts to attain New York’s Renewable Portfolio StandardS (RPSs) renewable procurement target levels.


Implementation

Specific implementation strategies are not listed within the document, but the general recommendations emphasize actions that can be taken to achieve broad-reaching goals:

Enhance the reliability of the state’s energy systems:

Reducing energy use;

Diversifying energy supplies;

Increasing use of indigenous energy supplies; and

Improving energy system infrastructure capacity.

Mitigate the environmental and health impacts of energy use:

Using energy and natural resources more efficiently, minimizing the use of fossil fuels, and supporting the development of clean, renewable energy resources; and

Reducing waste and air and water pollutant emissions and land degradation related to energy use.

Create economic opportunity and promote economic well-being.

Creating and maintaining jobs in New York.

Reducing the energy cost burden on New Yorkers.


Santa Monica, California


In 1999, the City of Santa Monica approved the “Santa Monica Strategic Energy Plan” as a component of the Santa Monica Sustainable City program. The City of Santa Monica features a Web page dedicated to sustainability practices in general, and includes energy savings success stories and tips/recommendations for energy savings. The energy plan is included to provide specific measures to be taken by City employees and at City sites, as well as by organizations and individuals. The plan is available online at:

www.santa-monica.org/cityclerk/council/agendas/1999/s1999101209-A.html.


The development of the proposed Strategic Energy Management Plan was a result of the changing electric industry marketplace, the evolution of the City’s participation in energy procurement and energy efficiency opportunities, and the increasing availability of new technologies and energy services.


The following five strategies were identified as priorities for the city:

1. Pursue energy efficiency: city staff, in cooperation with other cities and the California Energy Commission, persuaded the California Public Utilities Commission to distribute a greater percentage of the region’s Public Goods Charge funds (through SCE) to the cities of Santa Monica and Irvine.

2. Promote renewable energy use and generation throughout the City.

3. Support clean distributed generation.

4. Create a Community Energy System (central physical plant to serve the needs for city facilities).

5. Work with other communities to encourage more energy savings and efficiency.

Implementation

The plan identifies the following actions that can be implemented for each strategy. For Recommendation #1: Pursue Energy Efficiency

The plan suggests stepping up technical assistance for the school district and in the implementation of the city’s Proposed Performance-based Energy Efficiency Standards. Actions addressing lighting, tree planting, and green affordable housing also were prioritized. For Recommendation #2: Promote Renewable Energy Use and Generation

The plan suggests preparing and distributing consumer information on the benefits and opportunities for switching to green energy, including specific outreach to the school district, Santa Monica College, and other large institutional and commercial customers. The city wanted to coordinate educational


outreach efforts with local environmental organizations such as Global Green, which have received state funding for regional educational outreach efforts. Some of these outreach efforts would include facilitating access to green energy providers at the Santa Monica Festival and other major local events. For Recommendation #3: Support Clean Distributed Generation

The issue of price was addressed as key to meeting this goal. Specifically, they advocated for using photovoltaic cells to replace building materials themselves as in windows, roofing materials, or wall facades. Staff also evaluated other distributed power generation projects feasible at selected city sites such as fuel cells and natural gas micro-turbines. For Recommendation #4: Create a Community Energy System

A CES would distribute chilled and/or hot water from a central plant to individual buildings in a defined area through a network of pipes. The network would provide space heating, air conditioning, and domestic hot water and also could co-generate electricity. By connecting individual buildings through a district heating and cooling system, the community energy system approach greatly expands the opportunities for using a variety of renewable resources. In addition, a CES approach could incorporate the purchase and provision of more cost-effective electricity to a consortium of users through investment in city-owned electricity transmission and distribution facilities which would provide access to cheaper and cleaner electricity. For Recommendation #5: Work With Other Communities for Energy Savings and Efficiency

City staff was tasked with following legislative and policy developments and requesting City Council advocacy when appropriate. New alliances and partnerships with like-minded local governments and nonprofits will be recommended for council consideration as they present themselves to the city.


Selected Best Practices — Energy Supply

Goal

Pursue clean distributed generation and “district” generation opportunities.

Actions

Conduct a feasibility study of suitable sites for fuel cells, natural gas micro-turbines, and other DG technologies. (Santa Monica)

Solicit site specific proposals for city facilities and economic development opportunities. (Chula Vista)

Enter into long-term agreements with hardware suppliers and qualified contractors to streamline solar installation process for commercial, residential, and municipal facilities. (Marin County)

Explore the use of municipal bonds to cover gaps and enhance financial feasibility of solar installations. (Marin County)

Provide chilled/heated water from central plant to individual buildings throughout the city. (Santa Monica)

Pursue distributed generation incentive program through CEC. (Chula Vista)

Work to reduce standby charges that discourage DG implementation. (LGC)

Goal

Explore options for becoming a municipally-owned utility or a municipal aggregator.

Actions

Conduct preliminary appraisal and pre-feasibility consultant services to test the economics of city ownership and operation. (Chula Vista)

Analyze the risks and benefits of participating in the Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) program. (Chula Vista)

Goal

Increase share of renewable energy purchased by municipalities.

Actions

Purchase Renewable Energy Credits (RECs) for the remaining 80 percent of generation not covered by the Renewable Portfolio Standard goal for 2010. (Marin County)

Coordinate programs to educate consumers about RECs. (Santa Monica)


Selected Best Practices — Energy Efficiency and Conservation

Goal

Continue/expand energy efficiency and conservation projects for city facilities and promote energy efficiency for businesses and residents.

Actions

Provide additional energy design, management and funding support to the city facilities project team. (Chula Vista)

Coordinate efforts with SDG&E, the San Diego Regional Energy Office, the California Energy Commission and other agencies to take advantage of public facility programs and obtain energy conservation certifications for new and remodeled facilities. (Chula Vista)

Promote new programs, including water conservation steps, green building practices, and publications (Marin County)

Implement energy efficiency programs that utilize Public Goods Charges (PGC) included in utility bills. (Santa Monica)

Pursue life cycle energy calculation law for new buildings. (Local Government Commission)


Selected Best Practices — Education, Collaboration, and Advocacy

Goal

Develop and implement a legislative strategy that facilitates the city’s overall energy plan.

Actions

Add a new category to the city’s existing legislative program that embodies the city’s goals in such key areas as environmental protection, electrical supply costs, transmission reliability, natural gas supply and availability, photovoltaic and others. (Chula Vista)

Stay aware of legislative and policy developments and request City Council advocacy (Santa Monica)

Goal

Develop a local government energy network and collaborate on regulatory and legislative actions

Actions

Increase local government participation in CPUC process to the extent possible. (LGC)

Convene networking meetings among local governments. (LGC)

Create a local energy professionals working group, tap into existing (and create new) municipal and non-profit energy education organizations. (LGC)

Documents

Energy Plans 101107 - San Diego Association of Governments3. The County will continue the use of bio-diesel in county buses and other county vehicles and will seek to increase the