HomeMy WebLinkAboutElectric Board - Minutes - 05/21/2003City Council Liaison Electric Board Chairman Electric Board Vice Chairman
Eric Hamrick Alison Mason 493-1295 Jeff Lebesch 221-0543
Staff Liaison Secretary
DeEtta Carr 221-6702 Leslie Mooney 416-2703
Roll Call:
Board Present
Chairperson Alison Mason, Vice Chairperson Jeff Lebesch, Tracy Babst-Wiedenbrug, Dan Bihn,
Barbara Rutstein, and Linda Stewart
Board Absent
Lisa Skolds
Staff Present
Kraig Bader, Patty Bigner, DeEtta Carr, Lou Cordova, Eric Dahlgren, Leslie Mooney, John
Phelan, Tom Rock, Suzanne Jarboe -Simpson, Dennis Sumner, Doug Swartz, Mike Smith,
Wendy Williams
Meeting Opened
Chairperson Alison Mason called the meeting to order at 5:24 p.m.
Approval of Minutes
Chairperson Alison Mason requested a clarification on page 2 under "Update on Energy Supply
Policy". She requested that in the second paragraph, the second sentence read "This draft will
be an opportunity for the Board to list ways on achieving the 15 percent requested by City
Council." Board member Barbara Rutstein moved to approve the minutes of April 23, 2003 as
amended. Board member Tracy Babst-Wiedenbrug seconded, and the motion passed
unanimously.
Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle (lGCC) by Dan Bihn
Boardmember Dan Bihn gave a presentation on Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle
technology. He explained that it is probably the most promising of the clean coal technologies
today. The "integrated gasification" means that the coal is gasified in the same place it will be
used. This type of process is much cleaner than the standard coal burning process in that you can
increase efficiency, reduce emissions and sequester carbons. The downside is that it is still
Electric Board Meeting Minutes
May 21, 2003
Page 2
not a sustainable technology. Within the next ten years it will become a much more
economically viable technology if we start having a more aggressive emissions trading market.
He emphasized that we should extract as much energy out the materials we extract from the earth
and that we need to reduce our impact on the planet, and that this process is a very promising
component of a balanced energy policy.
The Board thanked Dan for his presentation.
StratePic Plan for Electric Enemy Supply Policy by John Phelan
John Phelan, Energy Services Engineer, presented a draft of the Strategic Plan for the Electric
Supply Policy. The plan outlines the primary objectives, conclusions and recommendations for
implementing the policy. These included:
Conclusions:
Energy services investments have positive benefit cost ratios for the community
Programs and services will service all sectors (residential, commercial and industrial)
Programs and services will target a wide variety of end -users.
Recommendations:
Use a combination of approaches to focus on energy services programs and rates to
implement Energy Policy targets
Recommend funding energy services at 1.5% to 2% of revenue ($1.2M to $1.6M) for
2004/2005
Use portion of initial funding to conduct detailed economic feasibility studies for specific
energy services programs
John summarized a plethora of energy conservation strategies that could be implemented in each
customer class to reduce demand and encourage conservation.
The Board discussed their ideas regarding costs and benefits of different conservation
approaches.
John stated that the strategic plan will be going to the City Council for consideration in August
and asked that they submit any questions or comments to him before that time. The Board
thanked him for doing an excellent job.
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Electric Board Meeting Minutes
May 21, 2003
Page 3
Other Items
• Board member Barbara Rutstein questioned whether it was possible to attend the APPA
meeting this year. Wendy Williams responded that the Utility has cut spending on travel
this year because of budget shortfalls.
• Board member Linda Stewart suggested that the Board should have some type of social
event at least once a year.
Mike Smith mentioned that the possibility of buying green tags to fulfill the renewals
portfolio goals. The Board will need to discuss at this at some time in the near future.
Chairperson Alison Mason suggested that John Bleem come in and talk about the issue.
Adiournment
The meeting was adjourned at 7:40 p.m.
Leslie Mooney, Secretary
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