JerryShechter on "Energy Work Group Minutes - 12.14.06"

JerryShechter — Fri, 26 Jan 2007 22:31:51 +0000

Kansas City Climate Protection Plan
Work Group Meeting Notes
December 14, 2006

Energy Work Group

Summary of Work Group Activities

The following question was posed to the work group: What are the 3 most important measures we must implement in Kansas City to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 2020?

Participants were instructed that preference should be given to the following criteria:

• Build on existing initiatives
• Identify Low Hanging Fruit
• Economically viable options
• Options with partnership opportunities across the community
• Measures that have been successfully implemented in other cities

Participants were given three “sticky” notes on which to write their recommendations. The notes from the group were posted on a wall, and organized in columns by similar topic.

The work group reviewed the results and adjusted some of the placements after discussion. When there was general agreement on the groupings, the “dot” exercise was performed.

Each participant was given three sets of colored dots and asked to place them by the columns to help prioritize the initiative recommendations. Dot colors and definitions were:

• Green – “Early Victories” – Implementation can begin before April 2007
• Blue – Critical & Strategic, but Long Term – Will take more than 2 years
• Yellow – Need more information to determine priority level

Results

Results of the exercise are summarized on the following pages. Each heading represents a column or grouping of responses; these groupings may need to change over time, but served their purpose in this initial meeting. Each bullet under that heading is a suggestion from the work group that was placed in that grouping. The number of green, blue, and yellow dots placed on the grouping is also listed. Duplicates or similar suggestions are taken out.

One question raised by a member of the Energy Group was “Why 2020?” and who decided that was the date by which we should achieve the goal? Overall, the responses were positive about the process and goals of the City. Participants were eager to learn in more detail about some initiatives at future meetings, and the chairman assured members there will be expert presentations based on the areas of interest most important to the Energy Work Group.

Energy Work Group

The underlined headings are the general categories or groupings of recommendations. Bulleted items beneath each heading are the specific comments received.

G = # of green dots, B = # of blue dots, Y = # of yellow dots

ENERGY CONSERVATION IN BUILDINGS

• City Buildings – 6 G, 1 B
• Get KCMO to follow its LEED Ordinance – 7 G
• Require all muni-owned new construction or building renovations to meet some minimal green building standards – 1 G, 1 Y
• Insulating old homes – 1 G, 2 Y
• Take the 2030 Architecture challenge (LEED ord.) – 2 Y
• Energy conservation in buildings – 2 G
• Building Energy Codes & Enforcement (Comml & Res. & Rental) – 3 B
• Promote/require green building practices thru incentives: 2 B, 2 Y
o Building permit fee discounts
o Expedited permit processing
o Tax abatement

Total for section: 17 G, 6 B, 7 Y

PUBLIC AWARENESS & EDUCATION

• Energy Education & Awareness Program – 11 G
• Conduct workshops for homes & businesses on energy conservation in both building & process loads – 1 B, 3 Y
• Provide recognition for smart energy use – 2 G, 3 B
• Support energy ed. & training to raise demand for green buildings – 1 B
• Bring ideas from other cultures to change how America (KC) uses energy

Total for section: 13 G, 5 B, 3 Y

INCENTIVE PROGRAMS

• Incentives for renewable fuel use – residential, comml, industry – 2 B, 1 Y
• Develop incentives for Energy Conservation – 3 G, 6 B, 2 Y
• Million Lights – 12 G
• Bio-gas, bio-deisel, cellulose ethanol – 1 B, 2 Y
• Mandate energy conservation, incentives for public/private LEED – 2 B
• State rebate programs for renewable energy projects – 1 B
• Demand side incentives for energy conservation – 3 B
• Facilitate the growth of EE/RE (efficiency renewable) businesses – 1 Y
• Install energy efficient co-generation power prod. Facilities – 1 Y
• High efficiency natural gas and electric HVAC – 1 Y
• High efficiency appliance/equipment rebates & tax credits – 1 B
• Give utilities profit incentive to sell LESS energy – 4 B, 1 Y

Total for section: 15 G, 20 B, 9 Y

POLICY

• Wind Power – Net Metering – 5 G, 8 B, 4 Y
• Urge MPSC to provide rate structure that allows utilities to be more profitable by selling less energy – 2 B, 8 Y
• Urban Growth Boundary – 1 B, 5 Y
• More Brownfield redevelopment – 1 B
• Legislation: Net-Metering, RPS, EE Codes – 1 G, 3 Y
• Enforce current energy codes – 3 G, 2 B
• Purchase of clean/renewable energy (directly or thru Renewable Energy Credits) – 2 G, 5 B, 5 Y
• Require 50% energy reduction for all building permits in FY 07 – 1 G, 4 Y

Total for section: 12 G, 25 B, 29 Y

MEASURE IMPACT, FUND EFFORTS

• Provide tools to measure energy use, relate to Good/Bad/Avg – 2 G, 3 B
• Fund effort thru: Muni Bond Financing, Local Public Benefit Fund, Incentive Financing like TIFF – 1 B
• Implement variable frequency drives on pumps and fans – 3 Y
• Why wait until 2020 to get to 1990 levels? – 1 G
• Public transportation within the City – 1 B
• Wet Weather Solutions and water conservation

Total for section: 3 G, 5 B, 1 Y

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JerryShechter on "Energy Work Group Minutes - 12.14.06"