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LL ltyof CITY COUNCIL COMMUNICATION <br />Louisville AGENDA ITEM 2 <br />COLORADO • SINCE 1878 <br />SUBJECT: DISCUSSION/DIRECTION — COMMUNITY ENERGY <br />EFFICIENCY/RENEWABLE ENERGY BACKGROUND FOR <br />POSSIBLE BALLOT ITEM <br />DATE: MARCH 9, 2021 <br />PRESENTED BY: EMILY HOGAN, ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER FOR <br />COMMUNICATIONS AND SPECIAL PROJECTS <br />KATIE BAUM, SUSTAINABILITY COORDINATOR <br />MEGAN DAVIS, DEPUTY CITY MANAGER <br />BACKGROUND: <br />In 2019, City Council advanced its commitment to climate action by unanimously <br />adopting Resolution 25-2019, setting clean energy and carbon emission reduction goals <br />for the municipality and larger community. Since adoption, incremental progress has <br />been made in reaching this goal through regional partnerships, outreach and <br />engagement and programming. <br />In 2020, the City requested details from Xcel on what it would take to get the community <br />to 100% renewable energy from electricity through a Renewable Energy Credit (REC) <br />purchase. Xcel responded that a REC purchase of $650,000 annually would achieve <br />that goal. However, Xcel would not commit to using such funding for the creation of new <br />renewable energy. <br />Council directed staff to continue exploring strategies and projects that could achieve <br />the same result in addition to a REC purchase. The 2021 Council Work Plan contains <br />an item for discussion of potential tax/fee and ballot issues, including <br />sustainability/renewable energy needs and funding. Other topics related to this item <br />include: sustainability/energy efficiency additions to Building Code and COVID <br />economic recovery. <br />Staff has identified additional strategies and projects to reduce energy consumption <br />within the community and/or expand renewable integration, as well as various funding <br />sources like a Climate Action Tax. This initial discussion will help staff focus on specific <br />strategies/projects and bring back more refined recommendations. The menu of options <br />provided for uses of revenue and programming can be changed based on Council's <br />feedback. <br />Staff has evaluated the potential for a Climate Action Tax, which if passed by voters, <br />would make Louisville the smallest community and only the third to adopt such a tax in <br />the state. A potential Climate Action Tax would establish a fund dedicated solely to <br />advancing community -wide climate action initiatives, which continues to be a priority for <br />residents as indicated by the 2020 Citizen Survey. <br />CITY COUNCIL COMMUNICATION <br />3 <br />