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Local Energy Action Now:
Engaging Local Citizens to Mitigate Climate Change
Creating a Local Clean Energy Action Plan
Make the Case:
Global climatechange and thechaos thatresults locally
Taking charge at the local level to secure our energy future
Northfield – Leadership from the community• City Government, • Historical Society,• Two Colleges, • EQC (Advisory to Council)• Cannon River Watershed Partnership
RENew Northfield (non‐profit) brought resolution to the City Council in December, 2005, committing Northfield to the Cities for Climate Protection Campaign.
• Council passed the resolution.
Ad hoc Energy Issues Group ‐‐ 2006‐2007
Mayor, City Council, city staff, members of EDA, Industry, Colleges, Townships, RENew, citizens met to discuss energy future.
Agreed an energy task force was needed.
May, 2007, Council created Energy Task Force
• Seven members
• One year existence
• Four Tasks
• Return with recommendations
Task One • To assess opportunities to develop local energy efficiency and clean energy projects that willa.)Protect the community from future energy price and supply instability b.)Enhance local economic development c.)Provide local, regional and global environmental benefits
Task Two
• To assess the efficacy of creation of a municipal electric utility or special energy district in achieving the above
Task Three
• To recommend citywide target greenhouse gas emissions reductions to fulfill Milestone 2 of the City’s commitment to the Cities for Climate Protection Campaign (CCPC)
Five CCPC Milestones
1. Baseline inventory of emissions.
2. Adopt emissions reduction target and target year.
3. Develop Local Action Plan
4. Implement Plan
5. Monitor, verify
Task Four
• To develop an action plan to meet the CCPC targets identified in step 3 above
Public involvement• Energy Resource Group meetings
Members from colleges, industry, commercial, and non‐profits
• Public meetings • Articles in Northfield News
Public Meetings
Met with Public Officials• City• Townships• School District• Colleges
Public MeetingsTwo meetings with general public
• Over 75 ideas for energy conservation, generation, or education from public
• Eleven work groups formed ‐‐ six continued through the year
The Energy Task Force met its goal:
• Returned with a 70‐page report
• Completed the four tasks
• Held two community meetings
• Started several energy‐interest community groups
Recommendations to City Council
Task 1 ‐‐ Opportunities
• Lead Clean Energy projects – model energy conservation and efficiency
• Direct city staff to consider all impacts of decisions using life cycle analysis and monetary impact analysis.
Recommendations to City Council
• Develop policies and initiatives to create demand for green collar jobs in the private sector
• Create Energy Commission• Set up One‐Stop‐Shop in City Hall• Sponsor MN Energy Challenge
Recommendations to City Council• Change city policies and ordinances to reflect energy importance
– City administrator job description should emphasize sustainability
– Discount energy audits– Allow homeowners to place special assessments on tax for energy projects
– Green construction for all new projects– New industrial park to incorporate clean energy
Recommendations to City Council
• Partner with private sector for wind farm or biomass plant
• Carbon surcharge for Energy use• Energy Action Fund to finance energy projects and Energy Coordinator position
• Smart metering negotiations with Xcel
Recommendations to City Council
• Task 2 – Assess setting up municipal energy utility or special energy district
– Recommended not pursuing the municipal utility – costs would be very high
– Recommended establishing a special energy district for combined heat and power servicing industrial and commercial users
Recommendations to City Council
Task 3 – Recommend citywide target greenhouse gas emission reductions
– State wide: 80% by 2050, 30% by 2025, 15% by 2015
• Recommendation: “Carbon free by '33”– 15% by 2013, 50% by 2028, 100% by 2033
• Annual measurements to begin this year
Recommendations to City Council
• Task 4 – Develop a climate action plan
– Adopt the targets set in Charge 3– Adopt the recommendations
Next Steps
• Ordinance being prepared• Council will appoint Energy Board• Begin work on Recommendations
How did we do it?
How can your city do this?
We had help!
1. History of Community Involvement
Some key citizen non‐profit initiatives:
HATPIN: 1960’s Households Against Toxic Pollution in NorthfieldLeague of Women Voters: 1979 & more Energy Conservation Education
grantClean Air Northfield (CAN): 1970's ‐ '80s air quality issues of Sheldahl, Inc. Cannon River Watershed Partnership: 1980’s non‐profit to protect Cannon
RiverRENew Northfield: Non‐profit, organized 2001, addresses renewable
energy
More Help
2. Two Colleges
Carleton College
St. Olaf College
Even More Help3. City Advisory Groups – A Few
Environmental Quality Commission
Energy Task Force
Non‐Motorized Task Force
Planning Commission
And Still More Help
4. Harvard Negotiators: 3rd Year Harvard Law Students
Survey of Northfield Energy Attitudes and Behaviors
Assistance in Technical Development
Training in Negotiations
Culture Required to Create Positive Community Norms of Energy Conservation & Clean Energy
Innovators
Early Adopters
Majority Adopters
Late Adopters
Resistors
The Dead
Your City
• Assess the Culture
• Find Leadership
• Collect like‐minded citizens (Letter to the Editor)• Organize around a clear issue
• Copy from successful examples (We did!)• Work – be persistent, patient, & proactive!
Call To ActionAssess Your ExpertiseWhat Does Your Community Support?Maximize the Strengths of Your CommunitySet Up a Task ForceBegin
Energy Task Force Report
ci.northfield.mn.us• Use “Search this site” – enter ‘energy task force’
• Report is a .pdf located mid‐page