The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink AboutEnergy Board - Minutes - 03/07/2013Energy Board Meeting Minutes March 7, 2013 1 Fort Collins Utilities Energy Board Minutes Thursday, March 7, 2013 Energy Board Chairperson City Council Liaison Greg Behm, 226-6161 Lisa Poppaw, 223-4136 Energy Board Vice Chairperson Staff Liaison Peter O’Neill, 288-4562 Steve Catanach, 416-2622 Roll Call Board Present Chairperson Greg Behm, Vice Chairperson Peter O’Neill, Board Members Peggy Plate, Britt Kronkosky, Margaret Moore, Ross Cunniff, and Barrett Rothe Board Absent Stacey Baumgarn Staff Present Steve Catanach, Lisa Rosintoski, John Phelan, Lucinda Smith, and Harriet Davis Guests David Nocella, Morgan Means, John Bleem, Dan Lenskold, Pranaya Sathe, and Theo Stewart Meeting Convened Chairperson Behm called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m. Public Comment David Nocella, a Colorado State University (CSU) student and intern with Congressman Jared Polis, introduced himself to the board. He also shared information about the upcoming CSU panel discussion concerning renewable energy development in Colorado. This is scheduled for May 1, 2013. The panel would like to have someone from the city participate in this event, which is an opportunity for different levels of government to share ideas on energy. Approval of February 7, 2013 Minutes Board Member Cunniff moved to approve the minutes of the February 7, 2013 meeting. Board Member Moore seconded the motion. Vote on the motion: Yeas: Behm, Cunniff, Moore, O’Neill, and Rothe. Nays: None. Vote on the motion: It passed unanimously. * Board Member Kronkosky and Board Member Plate abstained from voting due to their early departure at the February meeting. “Reinventing Fire” Presentation Light and Power Operations Manager Steve Catanach introduced the item and presented a video based on the book, “Reinventing Fire,” by Amory Lovins, cofounder of the Rocky Mountain Institute. Mr. Lovins encourages individuals to think differently about energy. More information is available at www.ted.com. The board members discussed some of the ideas presented in the video. Energy Board Meeting Minutes March 7, 2013 2 Energy Policy Review (Attachment available upon request). Customer Connections Manager Lisa Rosintoski introduced the item. Energy Services Manager John Phelan also presented information. The board is asked to review the Energy Policy goals as they relate to electric and energy (renewables, natural gas, and transportation). City Council needs visionary and innovation advice regarding the community’s energy future as it relates to the Green Building Program, Energy Policy, Climate Action Plan, and City Plan. The information presented is designed to facilitate discussion at the April meeting in regards to the board’s recommendation to Council regarding the Energy Policy. Energy Policy Goals and Benefits  Goal #1: Provide highly reliable electric service (benefits include economic development and long-term planning)  Goal #2: Support the community’s carbon emissions goal of reducing the City’s carbon footprint 20 percent below 2005 levels by 2020 and 80 percent by 2050 (benefits include alignment with Climate Action Plan metrics and customer expectations)  Goal #3: Enhance local economic health (benefits include light and power financial health, competitive rates, and affordability)  Goal #4: Work closely with Platte River Power Authority (PRPA) members and Platte River staff to further the City’s Energy Policy goals (benefits include partnership on generation portfolio and long-term planning based on community expectations) Mr. Phelan presented the following graphs related to Goal #1:  System Average Interruption Duration Index in Minutes (SAIDI)  Demand Response for 2012 Load Reductions  Advanced Meter Deployment as of March 1, 2013 (approximately 45,000 meters have been installed) Mr. Phelan presented the following graphs related to Goal #2:  Electricity Carbon Emissions Inventory-Operational (6 percent reduction from 2005 to 2012)  2012 Fort Collins Retail Resource Mix  Electricity, Carbon and Emissions Factor  Community Energy Use (percent change in electricity use per capita compared to 2005)  Efficiency Program Portfolio (Mr. Phelan noted 2012 saw 1.5 percent savings from 2010)  Efficiency Program Customer Savings  2009-2011 Incremental Savings as a percent of MWh Retail Sales  Fort Collins Annual Renewable Energy Purchases (MWh) Mr. Phelan presented the following graphs related to Goal #3:  Colorado Association of Municipal Utilities Residential Rate Survey (Mr. Phelan noted Fort Collins has very affordable rates compared to other Colorado cities)  2011 Efficiency Local Economic Impacts/Affordability of Electric Service Mr. Phelan presented the following graph related to Goal #4:  People, Energy and Peak Demand (Fort Collins saw a population increase of 68 percent from 1992 to 2012 and used 71 percent more energy in the same time frame.) Energy Board Meeting Minutes March 7, 2013 3 Mr. Phelan presented the metrics and benchmarks used with the Energy Policy Update. Lagging indicators include productivity, population per capital, weather normalization, built environment performance, and tracking by sector or rate class. Benchmark comparisons include efficiency portfolio results from public power utilities, percent renewable energy, carbon intensity of resource mix, and reliability statistics. Mr. Phelan presented the guiding principles behind the Energy Policy update. These include rate principles, future flexibility (long-term contracts and investment), and specific targets (reliability, fossil fuels, renewable energy, and efficiency). Highlights from the discussion: Chairperson Behm asked the board members to share their thoughts on the Energy Policy. Board Member Cunniff:  Likes the dashboard idea, and would also like a sustainability and/or energy policy dashboard;  Feels there should be more metrics, and perhaps metrics on natural gas usage;  Feels there should be recommendations to Council on the guiding principles (rate principles, long-term contracts, etc.) Board Member Plate:  Feels the 2009 Energy Policy statement had a strong focus on electric utility; perhaps the current Energy Policy should look at buildings, manufacturing, and transportation with “Reinventing Fire” as a framework. Board Member O’Neill:  Feels the original Energy Policy was a good start, but it should be a more detailed plan, and should be broadened to more sectors of energy;  Strong supporter of metrics and would like to see Triple Bottom Line (TBL) metrics on environment, economy, and society;  Likes the idea of tying it together with other City plans. Board Member Moore:  Feels staff should explore the possibility of distributed infrastructure and partnering with PRPA to supply more renewables;  Should consider the results of FortZED and lessons learned. Chairperson Behm:  Feels the Energy Policy should not be an “Electric Policy;”  Would like to see an explicit goal for renewable energy percentages by certain years, and would like to go beyond the 2020 renewable energy standard;  Would like to see a rewrite of the 2050 vision, feels the term ‘carbon neutral’ is vague;  Would like to see more hard metrics coupled with the Climate Action Plan. Board Member Rothe:  Feels the policy is very lateral;  Feels there are missed opportunities to engage the public;  Would like to see more grassroots or bottom-up involvement. Board Member Kronkoskv: • Likes the specific goals at the policy level: • The Energy Policy should engage the brainpower of the organization and the community; • Feels interim goals are important because 2020 is approaching fast: • Renewable Energy Standard can be controlled through the relationship with PRPA; • Likes the idea of input with other communities and the PRPA Integrated Resource Plan; • Likes the idea of Home Energy Audits for existing buildings at resale; • Feels there should be policies for solar thermal. Staff Reports Mr. Catanach gave a legislative update. The state legislature has suspended their typical process regarding bills. They are currently bundling bills by topics. The board members discussed advising City Council on legislative policy regarding particular bills. Mr. Phelan gave an update on Southwest Energy Efficiency Program (SWEEP). They have issued a case study on Fort Collins Utilities. Board Member Reports Board Member Rothe is scheduled to attend City Works 101 and may miss the April and May Energy Board meetings. Other Business Chairperson Behm gave an update on the board vacancy left by Board Member Wolley. Interviews will he scheduled for the end of’ March or early April. He reminded the board that changes will need to he made to the Board Member liaisons positions once a new board member is appointed. Board Member Rothe reminded the board Council will draft a new work plan after the new Councilmembers are elected. The Energy Board may want to review their existing work plan after this takes place. Future Agenda Review The board members discussed the upcoming April Agenda. Chairperson Behm reminded staff that Board Member Baumgarn requested an update on the Fort Collins Solar Program. This item is scheduled for the May 2 agenda. Adournment The meeting was adjourned at 7:38 p.m. Submitted by I larriet Davis. Administrative Assistant. Fort Collins Utilities Approved by the Board on 4 .2013 Signed \ c o 3 Board Secretary Date Energy Board Meeting Minutes 4 March 7. 2013