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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024 - Energy Board - Work Plan ENERGY BOARD 2024 Work Plan 2024 WORK PLAN Page 1 DUTIES & FUNCTIONS (Sec. 2-106) The duties and functions of the Board shall be: (1) To advise the City Council and staff regarding the development and implementation of the Our Climate Future Plan (OCF) including tracking of the staff developed Council Action Roadmap for OCF; (2) To advise the City Council and staff in developing City policies that encourage the incorporation of energy conservation and efficiency, carbon emissions reduction and renewable energy into the development and provision of City utility services, the design and construction of City transportation projects, and the way in which the City impacts the overall built environment within the community; (3) To advise the City Council and staff regarding the alignment of energy programs and policies with City, ratepayer and community values and service delivery expectations; (4) To advise the City Council and staff regarding the recommendations for improvements to City energy systems; (5) To coordinate with other City boards and commissions regarding energy issues; (6) To advise the City Council and staff regarding budgetary, rate-making and operational matters related to the electric utility; and (7) To annually review and provide advice to City Council and staff on the City's Legislative Policy Agenda regarding energy and energy-related carbon issues. WORK PLAN Climate Emergency City Council has established the "Climate Emergency" as a priority. The use of this term implies the utmost importance and of highest urgency. The Energy Board agrees with this language and aims to advise Council on its implications: namely that Climate Action should guide all Council decisions and that all City actions, in particular the budget, should be viewed through the lens of impact on our region's Greenhouse Gas Emissions. Council should at the same time be focusing resources to increase community resilience to changes that will occur, regardless of meeting greenhouse gas emission goals. The resilience preparations should include energy generation and transmission, water supply, and critical infrastructure. – Functions (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7) Implementing Our Climate Future (OCF) The Energy Board desires City Staff to develop plans that the Board could recommend to City Council, to: 1. Support Utilities acceleration of energy programs for efficiency, conservation, demand response, ENERGY BOARD 2024 Work Plan 2024 WORK PLAN Page 2 distributed generation and storage. Programs should increasingly focus on carbon emission mitigation, load shaping and grid flexibility while simplifying the customer experience. Ensure that opportunities span residential and commercial segments for both existing buildings and new construction. – Functions (1, 2, 3) 2. Improve energy access support for low-income and historically underrepresented groups in the City through programs, including promoting increased customer participation, support levels, and pursuit of program longevity for the Income Qualified Assistance Program. – Function (4) 3. Support staff and Council with the implementation of strategies articulated in the City Council OCF Action Roadmap (October 2022 and as updated), including emissions related to transportation and the built environment. – Function (2) 4. Address the impact of land-use policies on energy consumption and production including an examination of metro districts as well as the feasibility of energy districts. – Function (3) 5. Promote effective handling of variable and distributed sources and loads with the ongoing evolution of the Light & Power distribution system. This includes customer load flexibility, advanced distribution system management, and future energy market coordination. – Functions (4, 6) 6. Encourage and prepare for the electrification of transportation (electric vehicles of all types) and building systems (space heating, water heating, cooking and industry). This will include education for customers and trade allies, supply chain engagement, changes to codes and potential upgrades to distribution infrastructure, as well as grid management. – Function (2, 4, 5) 7. Accelerate the conversion of City-owned equipment from gasoline to electric; reccomend the City to include electrification as a condition to award maintenance contracts, in particular in the elimination of 2- and 4-cycle gasoline powered equipment used by the City or by subcontractors in the maintenance of green spaces. Work with suppliers to stock and to promote electric rather than gasoline equipment. 8. Encourage development of strategies and programs supporting the implementation of Our Climate Future Next Moves related to Distributed Energy Resources (including but not limited to virtual power plants, microgrids, battery storage, interactive demand response, housing, rate structures, energy codes, community solar, benchmarking and electrification). – Functions (2, 4, 5) 9. To seek advancement in transportation and building energy efficiency by steering code and policy at the City level and beyond to reduce energy consumption and emissions in current and future development – Functions (2, 3, 7) Cost of Service and Rate Structures Substantial changes in rate structures have occurred with time-of-day and income-qualified rates. More changes are coming as we will likely need to respond to new net metering statutes, wholesale rate structures and market ENERGY BOARD 2024 Work Plan 2024 WORK PLAN Page 3 considerations. In addition, considerable efficiency gains both past and future suggest a new emphasis on cost of service, rather than just rates. It is important to evaluate how rates differentially affect customers across the City, such as low-income customers and those with electric homes. The Energy Board will work with City Staff to recommend rate structure changes. – Functions (2, 6) For Distributed Energy Resources (DERs), soft costs such as permitting and development fees, which may inhibit growth, should also be considered by the board. – Function (2) Diversity, Equity & Inclusion The Energy Board continues to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion on the Board, and to encourage the maintenance of a full Board with reasonable Board Member retainment period(s) that encourages stability, learning opportunities, and equal representation across the broad stakeholders within the community of Fort Collins. The Board follows the Fort Collins Respectful Workplace Policy and wishes to continue training opportunities for creating positive work environments so that all feel welcome, involved, and respected. – Function (3) Engaging Beyond the Energy Board on Related Topics The Board encourages heightened consideration of energy-related integrated topics, systems, and locations to develop solutions that meet the various needs within the community. In order to meet emission and electrification goals, engagement with other related City Boards, Platte River member owner communities, and relevant County and State-level representatives is important to enhance awareness, collaboration, and support. As such, board members are encouraged to attend other city sanctioned board meetings and to report on those proceeding at the monthly Energy Board meetings. Each Board Member brings a specific community understanding to the Board and is an important tool to give voice to diverse perspectives. The Board reinforces the goal of equitable representation regardless of gender, status, race, etc. – Function (5) Protecting Light & Power Assets & Customers Light & Power owns and operates an expensive electrical distribution system that needs constant maintenance. Much has been accomplished recently: The maintenance inspection and asset inventory plans, and the contact voltage survey are good examples. The Energy Board desires that Light & Power continue to review current procedures; make recommendations to maintain the reliability of the distribution system operation; to meet future growth; and sustainably manage energy assets. – Functions (4,6) Light & Power’s business model faces challenges from a transition to more distributed and renewable resources, ongoing energy efficiency increases, and electrification and electricity markets. These actions provide benefits to the community while also bringing new risks and opportunities for the utility’s operations and finances. – Functions (4, 6) ENERGY BOARD 2024 Work Plan 2024 WORK PLAN Page 4 Ongoing Responsibilities 1. The board wishes to be involved early and often in the Budget process, in order to make timely and effective recommendations on funding priorities. – Function (6) 2. Review and provide advice to City Council and staff on the City’s Legislative Policy Agenda related to energy issues. – Function (7) 3. Engage with and advise Fort Collins’s representatives on the Platte River Power Authority’s Board of Directors to continue the advancement of the City’s energy, climate, and air pollution goals, including a 100% renewable resource mix by 2030. In addition, the Board may consider the development of additional goals related to Platte River generation carbon emissions that represent the values of the Fort Collins community and Fort Collins equity ownership of Platte River. – Function (3) 4. Other items that are brought before the board.