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Home My WebLink About2013 - Energy Board - Annual Report1 Utilities – Energy Board 700 Wood St. PO Box 580 Fort Collins, CO 80522 970.221.6702 970.416.2208 - fax fcgov.com Energy Board 2013 Annual Report Energy Board Membership The following members served on the Board in 2013: Stacey Baumgarn Greg Behm (chairperson) Ross Cunniff (former chairperson, resigned in April) John Graham (joined in June) Britt Kronkosky (resigned in December) Nick Michell (joined in June) Margaret Moore Peter O’Neill (vice-chairperson) Peggy Plate Barrett Rothe (former vice-chairperson, resigned in November) Steve Wolley (resigned in February). Work Plan The following items comprised the Board’s main focus for its 2013 Work Plan: 1. Review and propose revisions to the city Energy Policy. 2. Review and propose revisions to the city Climate Action Plan. 3. Provide advice to council about items which may affect customer billing including but not limited to AMI and utility rates. 4. Review and provide advice to City Council and staff on the City’s Legislative Policy Agenda regarding energy and energy-related carbon issues. 5. Provide advice to City Council on PRPA’s Electric Integrated Resource Plan and public process. 6. Revisit the Charter and Bylaws to ensure they are consistent with City Council’s direction and the Board’s desired direction. 7. Other topics consistent with the Board’s purpose as required by City Council, or as determined by Board leadership or City Staff. Formal Actions Taken The Board took the following actions in 2013: 1. Voted at its February regular meeting to elect Greg Behm and Peter O’Neill as Board Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson, respectively. 2. Approved and sent to City Council a memo expressing the Board’s concerns and offering recommendations pertaining to oil and natural gas extraction activities within the city. 2 3. Approved and sent to City Council a memo recommending review and revision of the city’s greenhouse gas reduction goals and Climate Action Plan, with the intent of setting more aggressive goals. 4. Approved at its April regular meeting and sent to the new City Council a memo highlighting energy-related issues the Energy Board thought City Council and Staff should address in 2013. 5. Approved and sent to City Council a memo supporting the Fort Collins Utilities’ Solar Power Purchase Program, and requesting that City Council grant authority for the Purchasing Manager to enter into 20 year agreements for the Program. 6. Approved a recommendation that City Council approve the revised 2014 Utilities Light and Power budgets required for purchase power and payment in lieu of taxes. 7. Approved and sent to City Council a memo supporting the proposed 2 percent average electric rate increase for 2014. 8. Approved a motion supporting Utilities’ proposed electric development fee increase for 2014, specifically endorsing the option implementing the full increase in 2014. 9. Approved a motion supporting adoption of the 2012 International Codes (International Building Code, International Residential Code, International Mechanical Code, International Fuel Gas Code, and International Energy Conservation Code), as reviewed and approved by the volunteer construction-industry committee convened in August, 2012 to review current local amendments and significant changes in the 2012 International Codes. 10. Rejected a motion to support staff’s recommendation to include fire-suppression (sprinkler) systems in the adopted 2012 International Residential Code. 11. Approved the Board’s 2014 Work Plan, as drafted by the Board and staff. Energy Policy Review City Council adopted the current city Energy Policy in 2009, with a requirement that the policy “be reviewed and revised in the fifth year after adoption.” Therefore, the Energy Policy is due for revision by City Council in 2014. Item #1 on the Board’s 2013 Work Plan was to review and propose revisions to the city Energy Policy, consistent with our duty to “advise City Council and staff regarding the development and implementation of the City's energy policy.” The Board worked throughout the year reviewing and developing proposed revisions to the Energy Policy. Members O’Neill, Graham, and Moore formed an ad hoc committee to create a draft proposal from which the Board began its work. The Board and staff met with representatives from Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) and received their subsequent report “Stepping Up: Benefits and Cost of Accelerating Fort Collins' Energy and Climate Goals.” The “Stepping Up” report details RMI’s analysis of how far and how fast Fort Collins might go toward meeting accelerated greenhouse gas reduction goals through building energy efficiency and conservation, changes in transportation, and conversion to a greater proportion of energy supplied from renewable sources. In addition to conducting Energy Policy review at most of its regular 2013 meetings, the Board also held two Energy Policy review work sessions. 3 Working with city staff, the Board made significant progress toward a revised Energy Policy proposal, but the process was incomplete at year’s end. The Board intends to complete its Energy Policy revision proposal in 2014 to help inform City Council’s decisions. Other Activities In addition to the formal actions taken and the Energy Policy review noted above, the Board discussed or received presentations on the following topics and issues:  Discussed possible changes to the Board’s Bylaws, with no action taken.  Received an update from Mr. Steve Catanach on the City’s Electric Vehicle (EV) Support Program and the Electrification Coalition’s Electric Vehicle Deployment Community Initiative, also known as Drive Electric Northern Colorado.  Received a presentation from Mr. John Phelan on the city’s Energy Policy 2012 Annual Report.  Received a presentation from Mr. Phelan, Mr. Mike Gebo, and Ms. Melissa Hovey on the city’s Green Building Program and the 2012 International Codes.  Received a presentation from Ms. Lucinda Smith regarding a staff memo to City Manager Darin Atteberry in response to his question concerning resource implications of updating community greenhouse gas reduction goals.  Received a presentation from City Council member and Energy Board Liaison Ross Cunniff, sharing his thoughts on City Council’s expectations for boards and commissions.  Received a presentation from Ms. Smith and Mr. Bruce Hendee on “Climate Action Planning: 2012 Climate Action Plan progress and Plans for Greenhouse Gas Goal Review and Climate Action Plan Update.”  Received a presentation from Ms. Terri Runyan on the City’s strategic planning efforts related to the Rocky Mountain Performance Excellence program.  Received a presentation from Mr. Phelan updating the Board on the On-Bill Financing Program approved by City Council in 2012.  Received a presentation from Mr. Phelan on the Fort Collins Solar Power Purchase Program and the Community Solar Garden Program.  Received an introduction to Assistant City Attorney Mr. Cyril Vidergar.  Received a presentation from Mr. Dan Weinheimer regarding “Review and Advice to City Council City’s Legislative Policy Agenda Regarding Energy and Energy-Related Carbon Issues.” The Board provided informal review and advice to Mr. Weinheimer; i.e. no formal action was taken.  Received a summary presentation from Ms. Susie Gordon on the city's “Road to Zero Waste.”  Received a presentation from Mr. Lance Smith on an analysis of Tiered Residential Electric Rate Impacts.  Received various brief staff reports, Board members reports, and public comments throughout the year, as detailed in the Board’s official meeting minutes.