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SUBJECT: COMMUNITY ENERGY DISCUSSION <br />DATE: MARCH 9, 2021 Page 3 of 13 <br />GHG Emissions from Building Electricity and Natural Gas <br />Consumption, 2019 <br />Residential Natural Gas <br />17.1% <br />Residentlal Electricity <br />17,2% <br />C&I Natural Gas <br />17.5% <br />C&I Electricity <br />48.2% <br />Xcel Energy 2019 Louisville Community Report <br />As identified by Boulder County and consistent with Louisville and other findings, GHG <br />reduction strategies focused on building efficiency, renewable energy and transportation <br />have the greatest likelihood of reducing emissions. Additionally, strategies targeted at <br />the commercial and industrial sector will have a greater impact on community emissions <br />as the largest sector emitter. <br />It should be noted that there is a direct relationship between decreasing energy <br />consumption and increasing renewable energy. By decreasing building consumption, <br />less renewable energy is needed to meet demand. However, stationary fuel switching <br />(i.e. building electrification) and transportation electrification efforts will increase that <br />demand but electrification strategies ultimately provide a cleaner path away from <br />methane, which has a global warming potential 20 times more than carbon dioxide. <br />BOULDER COUNTY SUSTAINABILTY TAX: <br />In 2016, Boulder County voters approved an extension of an existing 0.25% open space <br />tax that was set to expire in 2019 and directed one half of future revenues to <br />sustainability (and the remaining to open space). Based on 2020 sales tax projections, <br />the tax was predicted to generate approximately $7 million annually. <br />Per the Board of County Commissioners' (BOCC) original intent of passing the tax, a <br />majority of the tax proceeds are used to fund and expand existing programs and <br />infrastructure that do not have secure long-term funding sources, such as: <br />Energy efficiency and renewable energy services (EnergySmart) <br />Business sustainability services (PACE) <br />Alternative transportation support for students and low-income residents (Mobility <br />4 All, Trip Tracker, Safe Routes to Schools) <br />CITY COUNCIL COMMUNICATION <br />5 <br />