HomeMy WebLinkAboutResponse to Constituent Letter - Mail Packet - 05/28/2024 - Letter from Mayor Arndt to Energy Board re: Support for 2024 Appropriation Recommendations for the 2023 Ballot Initiative
Mayor
City Hall
300 LaPorte Ave.
PO Box 580
Fort Collins, CO 80522
970.416.2154
970.224.6107 - fax
fcgov.com
May 23, 2024
Energy Board
c/o Christie Fredrickson, Staff Liaison
PO Box 580
Fort Collins, CO 80522
Dear Brian Smith and Board Members:
On behalf of City Council, thank you for providing us with the memorandum dated May 22,
2024 regarding Board support for 2024 climate tax appropriation recommendations for the 2023
ballot initiative.
Thank you for outlining your support for the “Climate Fund Criteria” and we acknowledge that
the Board recommends establishing an annual dollar per MTCO2e and other targets that decrease
over time.
Thank you for the expertise and perspectives that you bring to the Board and share with City
Council.
Best Regards,
Jeni Arndt
Mayor
/sek
cc: City Council Members
Kelly DiMartino, City Manager
Utilities – Energy Board
700 Wood St.
PO Box 580
Fort Collins, CO 80522
970.221.6702
970.416.2208 - fax
fcgov.com
M E M O R A N D U M
DATE: May 22, 2024
TO: Mayor Arndt and City Councilmembers
FROM: Fort Collins Energy Board
RE: Support for 2024 Appropriation Recommendations for the 2023 Ballot Initiative
At the May 9, 2024, Energy Board meeting, Fort Collins Utilities staff presented the 2024 climate
tax appropriation recommendations. In accordance with the Energy Board’s duties and
responsibilities 1, 2, and 6, the following advice is provided to Council regarding the staff
recommendations:
• The Energy Board supports the “Climate Fund Criteria” established by staff to identify
and recommend projects. The criteria help staff focus on identifying projects that are di-
rectly aligned with Our Climate Future, complement existing projects, provide immediate
community benefits, and the benefits can be easily communicated to taxpayers.
• The Energy Board supports the projects recommended by staff using the “Climate Fund
Criteria.” Most projects are “shovel ready” and will provide immediate benefits towards
the carbon reduction goals. “Convenient Transportation Choices" may not provide imme-
diate carbon emission reductions but lay the foundations necessary to deliver important
future benefits towards the goals outlined in the Ballot initiative.
• It’s the Energy Board’s understanding that the recommended projects will deliver carbon
reduction at a $68 to $103 per Metric Tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (MTCO2e). This
is concerning given the Utility’s 2023 Energy Services portfolio of programs achieves an
average of $31 per MTCO2e, with individual projects and effort ranging from $11 per
MTCO2e to $146 per MTCO2e. However, the Energy Board acknowledges that the av-
erage dollar per MTCO2e is typically higher with new projects and expects the average
dollar per MTCO2e should come down over time as projects mature and “foundational”
projects start delivering results. Given this, the Energy Board recommends the Council
request staff to establish annual dollar per MTCO2e, and other key cost-effectiveness
impact targets, that decrease over time with a final goal to be achieved by 2050.
Overall, it is the Energy Board’s observations that the projects seem reasonable and a prudent
use of taxpayer funds to achieve the goals as outlined in the Ballot initiative of 2023. The
Energy Board suggests the Council approve projects as proposed.
Thank you for the opportunity to review and comment.
Respectfully submitted on behalf of the Energy Board,
__________________________
Brian P. Smith
Energy Board
cc: Brian Tholl, Senior Manager, Mechanical Engineer
Michael Authier, Mechanical Engineer III
Christie Fredrickson, Administrative Assistant, Energy Board Support