HomeMy WebLinkAboutEnergy Board - Minutes - 11/05/2015Energy Board Meeting Minutes
November 5, 2015
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Fort Collins Utilities Energy Board Minutes
Thursday, November 5, 2015
Energy Board Chairperson City Council Liaison
Peter O’Neill, 288-4562 Ross Cunniff, 420-7398
Energy Board Vice Chairperson Staff Liaison
Phil Friedman, 493-2959 Lisa Rosintoski, 416-2432
Roll Call
Board Present Chairperson Peter O’Neill, Vice Chairperson Philip Friedman, Board Members
Michael Doss, Greg Behm, Stacey Baumgarn, Peggy Plate, Nick Michell, and Margaret Moore
Absent Board Member Darrin Johnson
Staff Present Lisa Rosintoski, John Phelan, Lucinda Smith, Katherine Martinez, Tony Raeker, Paul
Sizemore
Guests John Bleem and Paul Davis of Platte River Power Authority, Kris Smith, Zach Yellen,
Stephen Yurash, Pete Hoelscher
Meeting Convened
Chairperson Pete O’Neill called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m.
Public Comment
Stephen Yurash, former member of the City’s Electric Board, provided articles on several topics:
“Winter is coming to the Arctic,” November 4, 2015, National Snow and Ice Data Center; “Global
Cooling is Here,” by Prof. Don J. Easterbrook, Global Research, September 26, 2015, Department
of Geology, Western Washington University (originally published by Global Research November 2,
2008), www.globalresearch.ca; “Sunspot Trends Suggest Global Cooling Ahead,” by Larry Bell,
August 25, 2014, www.newsmax.com; “The Insiders: Inconvenient numbers for the global warming
crowd” by Ed Rogers, November 4, 2015, The Washington Post; “China Burns Much More Coal
Than Reported, Complicating Climate Talks,” by Chris Buckley, November 30, 2015, The New
York Times; “The Next Climate Scandal?” by Holman W. Jenkins, Jr., November 3, 2015, The Wall
Street Journal
Mr. Yurash spoke against closing down the coal-burning Rawhide Energy Station because it’s
efficient. [Board members later clarified that the proposal was regarding the plant in Craig,
Colorado, not Rawhide, and that Platte River Power Authority owns it, not the City, which is one of
the co-owners/partner cities.] He summarized the main points of the articles he handed out,
including China’s coal-burning, questions about revised climate data, ice caps status, sunspot data,
and global cooling. He cautioned the City to drastically alter its amount of coal burning, given the
amount of coal China burns, and advocated for saving fossil fuels.
Energy Board Meeting Minutes
November 5, 2015
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Approval of October 1, 2015 Minutes
Board Member Stacey Baumgarn moved to approve the October 1, 2015 minutes with the
revisions discussed during the meeting.
Vice Chairperson Phil Friedman seconded the motion.
Vote on the motion: It passed unanimously, 7-0 with one abstention.
Pete O’Neill abstained due to his absence at the October meeting.
Staff Reports
(Attachments available upon request)
Executive Director Report
Utilities Executive Director Kevin Gertig summarized the status of finances, capital projects, and
plans for the future, and emphasized the goal to become the safest workplace in America; related to
that goal is the new training center for Light and Power linemen and linewomen, to be constructed
in 2016; goals include hiring more linewomen. Operating revenues and expenses continue to be
below budget. The department is developing a Capital Improvement Plan in 2016 regarding assets
in the underground system. Aging infrastructure has led to outages, and Utilities hired consultant
engineers to help accomplish four major tasks, which includes implementing a complete asset
management system over the next two year.
Platte River Power Authority (PRPA) Board approved a 2016 rate increase in October. Mr. Gertig,
mentioned a progressive portfolio that will add 30 megawatts (MW) of solar energy at Rawhide
Energy Station in the fall of 2016. Rawhide is in the middle of a six-week planned outage. Other
projects include an increased demand response program in 2016, and evaluating how to comply
with the Clean Power Plan. A board member inquired about the efforts Utilities is taking to prepare
for an electromagnetic pulse and other potential threats. Mr. Gertig mentioned the City takes
cybersecurity seriously and is involved in efforts to protect City services. Another board member
inquired about aging infrastructure and Mr. Gertig replied that Utilities is planning for it.
New Energy Board Members
Board Members Nick Michell and Stacey Baumgarn reapplied for another term; the City Clerk’s
Office is coordinating interviews. This is Board Member Peggy Plate’s last term, which will end in
December.
Clean Power Plan (CPP)
Resource Conservation Manager John Phelan gave a summary of “Efficiency and the Clean Power
Plan for Colorado.” Compliance Criteria for energy efficiency: quantifiable, non-duplicative,
permanent, verifiable, enforceable. John Shenot, a member of the City’s Air Quality Board, is also a
national expert for the Clean Power Plan, presented How Can Energy Efficiency Fit Into a Clean
Power Plan State Compliance? A joint meeting of the Energy and Air Quality boards is a
possibility, to take advantage of local expertise.
A board member inquired about whether the CPP covers strictly electric. Mr. Phelan replied that it
does and stated there are many different ways to meet criteria for Clean Power Plan. The takeaway
is there are more possibilities to consider regarding compliance. Credit is available if the City can
meet five criteria.
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November 5, 2015
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Legislative Policy Review
Dan Weinheimer gave an overview of the City’s legislative policy efforts and status of legislative
bills. The City’s Legislative Review Committee meets once a month during the state legislature’s
general session and includes City Councilmembers. The committee’s goal is to build stronger
relationships with legislators. The City will host a breakfast with legislators in February to advocate
for certain legislative bills and Mr. Weinheimer welcomed input from Energy Board members.
Issues include solutions to homelessness, starting a legislative coalition on climate issues with
Boulder city and county to achieve common goals. Goals for next year include gaining more local
control on citing and zoning regarding oil and gas. A November 16-17 meeting on rulemaking is
scheduled. Other priorities include the Climate Action Plan, transportation issues such as Interstate
25 and trying to gain additional funding, water resource planning, and supporting the innovation
economy through advocating for federal grants.
A board member commented that one of the Energy Board’s responsibilities is to provide input on
legislative policy agenda, and requested that staff come to the board earlier in the year with
proposed legislation. Utilities Customer Connections Manager Lisa Rosintoski suggested including
the board in the process at the same time as staff input in September. Board members discussed the
news of states suing the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency over proposed Clean Power Plan
power plant regulations.
2016 Energy Board Work Plan
(Attachments available upon request)
Utilities Customer Connections Manager Lisa Rosintoski summarized the Energy Board’s 2016
Work Plan objectives, including providing City Council with recommendation on Budgeting for
Outcomes items that result in alignment with Energy Policy goals, the Climate Action Plan,
implementation of Energy Policy goals. Board members discussed being proactive and setting a
schedule that allows for timely recommendations to City Council
Board Member Phil Friedman moved to adopt the 2016 Energy Board Work Plan as
presented to by staff.
Board Member Greg Behm seconded the motion.
Vote on the motion: It passed unanimously, 8-0.
2016 Proposed Meeting Schedule
(Attachments available upon request)
Customer Connections Manager Lisa Rosintoski presented the 2016 meeting dates and board
members briefly discussed the schedule. Ms. Rosintoski also reviewed the 2016 agenda planning
calendar, which includes updates on Platte River Power Authority, Budgeting for Outcomes (the
City’s budget planning process), Clean Power Plan, and solar energy.
Energy Policy Implementation
(Attachments available upon request)
Ms. Rosintoski reported on City Council’s comments on the Energy Policy, which was removed
from the November 3 meeting Consent Agenda to give the board time to review Platte River Power
Authority’s suggestions for minor revisions in wording. Ms. Rosintoski will draft a memo from the
Energy Board to City Council on approval of the revisions.
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November 5, 2015
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Board Member Greg Behm moved for the Energy Board to accept the proposed revisions to
the Electric Supply Resources section of the Energy Policy.
Board Member Nick Michell seconded the motion.
Discussion on the motion
A board member commented that the City is one of the co-owners of Platte River Power Authority,
and disagreed with recent comments that the City of Fort Collins shouldn’t be dictating or guiding
PRPA’s future via the Energy Policy because PRPA’s future is the City’s future due to the City
being a co-owner of PRPA. Ms. Rosintoski clarified that the City is an equity owner of about 47%
and has voting power of 25% (two members of an eight-member board).
Vote on the motion: It passed unanimously, 8-0.
Energy Policy Implementation
Ms. Rosintoski and Mr. Phelan summarized the Energy Policy Implementation process: Budgeting
for Outcomes (BFO), Project and Program Review, Recommend projects and/or programs as part of
BFO process. Board members discussed the process. One board member commented that the
Energy Policy is meant to cover the next five years, which means the board has two budget cycles
(of two years each) in which to accomplish the goals. Another board member commented on the
number of transportation budget offers that weren’t accepted in the past budget cycle. FC Moves
Manager Paul Sizemore replied that an update to the Transportation Master Plan will be a priority.
A board member suggested forming an ad hoc subcommittee of three members to examine issues to
bring forward in the next budget cycle, and report to the Energy Board at its December 3, ahead of
staff prioritization of potential budget offers and in advance of the March 8 City Council overview
of the budget process: Volunteers included Phil Friedman and Pete O’Neill, and Michael Doss. A
public notice will be posted for the ad hoc committee meeting: Saturday, Nov. 21, from 9:00 a.m. to
11 a.m. at Cuppy’s Coffee & Smoothies, 353 W. Drake Road. [The ad hoc committee meeting was
cancelled.]
Board Member Greg Behm moved that the Energy Board approve an ad hoc Energy Policy
Implementation Suggestions Committee to report back by the December meeting. [The ad hoc
committee meeting was cancelled.]
Board Member Nick Michell seconded the motion.
Vote on the motion: It passed unanimously, 8-0.
Board Member Reports
• Board Member Marge Moore attended a recent City Council meeting and sat next to
Women’s Commission members, who mentioned that one member attends each City
Council meeting (two board members per month). They’ve found it valuable, hearing about
all different topics.
• Board Member Stacey Baumgarn shared information on Colorado State University (CSU)
being designated Platinum Bicycle Friendly University list. CSU is the only university in the
state and one of five universities in the nation with the designation by the League of
American Bicyclists. He stated the partnership and connectivity between CSU and the City
over the past couple of years contributed to the designation.
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November 5, 2015
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• Board Member Nick Michell biked down the Remington corridor and commented that he
likes it. Intersections along Remington feature recent changes: converting signals to a 4-way
stop (at Pitkin and at Elizabeth), converting a 4-way stop to a 2-way stop (at Lake), and
converting signals to a roundabout (at Laurel).
• Vice Chairperson Phil Friedman rode MAX a lot this summer, and now rides it about once a
week for errands; it sometimes takes less time, and sometimes more, but it’s less stressful
than driving, and is sometimes standing room only. Many passengers are CSU students; he
commented it’s an amazing accomplishment to have all those students riding MAX instead
of driving cars.
• Chairperson Pete O’Neill has used MAX many times recently to travel to CSU. Last week,
he planned to take MAX to attend a mid-day meeting, but the south transit center had no
parking space available, so he had to drive that time.
• Vice Chairperson Phil Friedman mentioned an article in the Denver Post yesterday about
Prieto Battery receiving $2.2 million in funding; he commented that the company is on the
cusp of the next big thing: the battery charges in minutes and holds two to four times as
much energy as a regular battery. Board Member Nick Michell mentioned he’s an investor.
Dr. Amy Prieto has been working on it since 2009, and production is planned in 2017.
New Business
None
Future Agenda Review
Agenda items for the December 3 meeting include draft 2015 Annual Report, Demand Response
Peak Partners update, West Elizabeth Street Corridor Plan, and determine the minutes rotation
(board members taking turns acting as secretary, starting in January).
Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at 8:14 p.m.
Submitted by Katherine Martinez, Administrative Assistant, Fort Collins Utilities
Approved by the Board on December 3, 2015
Signed
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Board Secretary Date