HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017 - Energy Board - Work Plan2017 Energy Board Work Plan
Purpose:
Per the Bylaws of the Energy Board, “The board shall adopt an annual statement of goals and objectives
in a work plan…” The purpose of the work plan is to advise City Council in the management of the City’s
energy policies that support Plan Fort Collins, Climate Action Plan, Energy Policy, and the City’s Codes
related to the built environment for charting the City’s energy future.
Energy Policy Goals:
1. Efficient Built Environment
• Improve performance of new and existing buildings
• Deliver effective efficiency program portfolio
2. Electricity Supply and Distribution
• Diversify electric resources
• Increase renewable energy
• Maintain reliability and electric distribution system
• Expand demand response
3. Transportation and Land Use
• Reduce vehicle miles travelled
• Improve efficiency of transportation
• Electrify transportation with clean sources
Work Plan - By Theme
Preparing Light & Power for the Future
Fort Collins seeks to deploy high levels of solar photovoltaic (PV) and other distributed electric
generation as well as promote the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs). These new generation sources and
loads soon will challenge our electric distribution system in ways for which it was not designed. The
solutions will involve distributed demand response, distributed generation control, distributed storage,
and rate structures to incentivize efficient use of these resources.
The Energy Board desires that Ft. Collins Utilities determine the solar PV capacity of our community’s
roofs, the magnitude and timing of the load that will be presented by charging electric vehicles, how
automatic demand response and distributed storage might be configured to economically match this PV
generation to the new EV and traditional loads, and to propose the accompanying rate structures. We
would also like to see Utilities make proposals for the underlying system models, instrumentation, and
control systems needed to make this work.
The Energy Board will review these studies and plans and recommend to City Council ordinances
proposed by Utilities staff or that ordinances will be drafted to reliably and economically integrate these
new sources and loads.
Protecting Light & Power Assets & Customers
Light & Power owns and operates an expensive electrical distribution system that is showing signs of
deterioration. The Energy Board desires that Light & Power review current procedures and make
recommendations to maintain the reliability of the distribution system operation and to sustainably
manage their physical assets.
As its system evolves into a “smart grid”, Light & Power is handling an increasing amount of system and
customer data and control signaling. The Energy Board wants assurance that Fort Collins Utilities Light &
Power is taking adequate measures to assure the physical and cyber security of the electric distribution
system and the privacy of customer information.
The Energy Board will review these reports and recommend to City Council new actions that might be
needed to further protect Light & Power assets and customers.
In light of a changing electric power industry, the Energy Board will study and make recommendations
for the development of a sustainable business plan for Light & Power.
Implementing the Energy Policy & CAP Outside of Light & Power
Implementing Fort Collins’ energy and climate goals involves city organizations beyond its municipal
electric utility. The Energy Board desires City Staff to develop plans that the Board could recommend to
City Council, to:
1. Accelerate energy efficiency programs since efficiency is the least expensive and fastest way to meet
our city’s goals.
2. Prepare comments to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment regarding pro-
posed Colorado rules for the Clean Power Plan if that plan is still pertinent.
3. Include energy consumption considerations in the upcoming revision of the Transportation Master
Plan including the incorporation of energy metrics into the land use planning process.
4. Address the impact of land use policies on energy consumption and production including an exami-
nation of the feasibility of energy districts whereby neighboring properties can share energy, both
electrical and thermal, as well as energy assets such as electricity and heat storage and geothermal
exchange loops.
Expanding the Energy Board’s Charter
The Energy Board also seeks an ordinance by City Council to expand the Energy Board’s duties and
functions to:
1. Engage in educational activities, in collaboration with City staff and external organizations, to
build broader community support for City policies concerning sustainable energy, energy
conservation, and climate change.
2. Collaborate with other regional similar boards and commissions regarding energy issues
Ongoing Responsibilities
1. Review electric utility rate proposals and energy services programs or projects and provide recom-
mendations to City Council.
2. Review and provide advice to City Council and staff on the City’s Legislative Policy Agenda related to
energy issues.
3. Receive presentations from Platte River Power Authority on their Resource Planning and provide
feedback to City Council and staff to ensure alignment with the Energy Policy goals.