City Council Study Session Agenda and Packet 2017 01 24

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LOUISVILLE ENERGY ACTION PLAN "Reduce energy consumption, increase the use of clean energy and transition away from fossil fuels." Each focus area includes internal and external targets with multiple strategies identified to achieve them. For Climate & Energy, targets are as follows: Internal Target 1) Move towards carbon neutrality for all City operations, Internal Target 2) Move toward carbon neutrality in all City buildings and External Target 1) Increase energy efficiency and renewable energy adoption in the commercial and residential sectors. LSAB is an all -volunteer board, originally formed in the 1990s as the Resource Conservation Advisory Board and focused primarily on waste reduction. In 2010, the members proposed expanding their mission to "promoting sustainability through energy efficiency, resource conservation, and localization to better the environment, social well-being, and economic vitality of Louisville." LSAB has taken numerous actions over the years on a variety of sustainability initiatives, including water use and conservation, providing CFL and LED replacement light bulbs to residents, and a comprehensive residential curbside refuse -recycling - compost collection service. In 2016, LSAB has taken on the launch of a green business recognition program in partnership with Boulder County and others that will provide assistance and recognition for commercial businesses that conserve resources. By focusing on the areas of greatest impact and opportunity with the creation of the Sustainability Action Plan, LSAB seeks to encourage and implement initiatives that will contribute effectively to improve the community's triple bottom line and overall quality of life. The Case for a Community Energy Action Plan In order to realize the goals and targets identified in the Sustainability Action Plan's Climate & Energy Focus Area, concrete means of supporting the identified strategies are needed. Realizing that the community's electric and gas utility should ideally play a significant role in the energy reduction efforts, and that achieving significant energy reductions will take the entire community, an Energy Action Plan has been developed. While the Energy Action Plan, or EAP, will not address each of the strategies identified under the Climate & Energy focus area, by identifying efforts the community stands behind will lead to tangible actions and outcomes in support of the targets. In 2014 Louisville Baseline Energy Study, approximately half of GHG emissions were attributable to energy use in the community. Recognizing that, the Energy Action Plan will play a large role in achieving emissions reductions in the short term as well as paving the way for future reductions in the future. As such, Partners in Energy is explicitly identified in the Sustainability Action Plan, and will be a key implementation vehicle for achieving significant savings. In addition to energy and emissions savings, it is important to note that with rebates and reduced utility costs, the community of Louisville is expected to see long term cost savings. Lower heating bills for residents and lower electric costs for businesses allow more money to be directed to other uses, leading to increased wealth and opportunity. Moreover, the environmental benefits of reduced fossil fuel energy consumption are addressed more completely in the Sustainability Action Plan. Social benefits for the community are addressed as well, with some of the actions identified addressing such topics as school education and affordable housing, along with enabling the community to take pride in the good work being done.