HomeMy WebLinkAbout2015-115-12/15/2015-APPROVING AND ADOPTING AN UPDATED ENERGY POLICY RESOLUTION 2015-115
OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS
APPROVING AND ADOPTING AN UPDATED ENERGY POLICY
WHEREAS, on August 18, 1992, the City Council approved and adopted the City's
initial Electric Energy Supply Policy, establishing policies, guidelines and criteria to guide future
development of City departments and provide community leadership in managing energy
demand(the "1992 Policy"); and
WHEREAS, the 1992 Policy has since been updated and renamed, most recently under
Resolution 2009-002, adopted by City Council on January 6, 2009, which approved and adopted
the current Energy Policy (the "2009 Policy"); and
WHEREAS, City staff has prepared an updated energy policy, entitled "2015 Energy
Policy" a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit "A" and incorporated herein by this
reference (the "2015 Policy"); and
WHEREAS, City Council reviewed the draft 2015 Policy during a work session on
September 22, 2015, and encouraged staff to conduct additional community engagement before
finalizing the updated policy for potential adoption,by Council; and
WHEREAS, staff and the Energy Board chairperson subsequently engaged in extensive
community engagement, including presentations to the Energy Board, Affordable Housing
Board, Air Quality Advisory Board, Economic Advisory Board, Natural Resources Advisory
Board, Planning & Zoning Board, Transportation Board, Senior Advisory Board, and Water
Board; and
WHEREAS, the Energy Board on November 23, 2015, and Air Quality Advisory Board
on August 17, 2015, each voted unanimously to adopt formal memoranda recommending support
for the 2015 Policy, as modified in response to Council, advisory board and community
comments; and
WHEREAS, the 2015 Policy is consistent with the fundamental goals established in the
2009 Policy to maintain electric distribution system reliability, safety, and energy affordability
for the community, as well as incorporating greenhouse gas emission reduction and pollution
prevention goals, State of Colorado renewable portfolio standards, and updated metrics and goal
calibrations with current electric industry best practices; and
WHEREAS, in addition,the 2015 Policy contains language intended to:
Realign energy efficiency and demand response goals and objectives for 2020;
• Realign overall renewable energy and local renewable energy goals for 2020;
• Recognize and realign the City's greenhouse gas emission responsibilities with its
ownership stake in Platte River Power Authority and PRPA's operations planning; and
• Align the Energy Policy with other City plans and policies; and
WHEREAS, the City Council has determined it is in the best interest of the City to
approve and adopt the 2015 Policy.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
FORT COLLINS as follows:
Section 1. That the City Council hereby makes and adopts the determinations and
findings contained in the recitals set forth above.
Section 2. That the 2015 Energy Policy is hereby approved and adopted.
Passed and adopted at a regular meeting of the Council of the City of Fort Collins this
15th day of December, A.D. 2015.
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FORT COLLINS
ENERGY POLICY
December 15 , 2015
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Overview. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Background . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Visionand Motivations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Vision . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Motivations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Fort Collins energy characterization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
PolicyObjectives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Builtenvironment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Improve performance of new buildings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Improve performance of existing buildings and process energy use . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Electricity supply and distribution . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Electric supply resources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Reliability . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Electricdistribution . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Transportation and land use . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Development, redevelopment and parking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Multimodal transportation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Fuel -ffficient and electric vehicles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Elements of the Transportation Master Plan pertaining to energy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Elements of land use planning pertaining to energy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
ImplementationPrinciples . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Systemsthinking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Partnership . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Communityeconomics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Localeconomic health . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Fort Collins Utilities Light & Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
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Electricitypricing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Information and education . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Privacyand security . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Connectionsand Metrics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Connections to other plans and programs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Implementation and metrics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Policyreview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
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OVERVIEW
The City of Fort Collins' Energy Policy reflects our community's values of reliability, safety, affordability, greenhouse gas
(GHG ) emissions reduction , pollution prevention and energy independence . The policy provides goals for the prioritization
of decision making, programs and services related to the quantity of use and the sources of energy for electricity, thermal
end-uses and transportation .
The Energy Policy uses a systems approach to energy production and consumption, as well as triple bottom line metrics
( economy, society and environment), to guide City government in the development of plans promoting policy outcomes for
residents, businesses and other organizations . The City also has a role in the demonstration of policy initiatives through
leading by example .
BACKGROUND
The City' s first energy policy was the 2003 Electric Energy Supply Policy. In 2009, it was revised and renamed the Energy
Policy. This update reflects a more comprehensive approach for energy issues and includes electricity, heating and
transportation fuels, and the interactions between them . The following graphic shows the relationships among the sections
of this document.
Fort Collins Energy Policy
Vision: Fort Collins is a leader in the transition to sustainable and resilient local energy
systems to serve the community's 2050 carbon neutral future.
Motivations: Climate Action Local Economic Health
Pollution Prevention Energy Independence
Efficient Built Environment Electricity Supply and Distribution Transportation and Land Use
Goals , Improve performance of • Diversify electric resources • Reduce vehicle miles
new and existing buildings • Increase renewable energy travelled
• Deliver effective efficiency • Maintain reliability and • Improve efficiency of
program portfolio electric distribution system transportation
• Expand demand response • Electrify transportation
with clean sources
Partnership
Implementation Platte River and owner cities, CSU, Xcel, business, research
Principles
Community Economics
Local economic health, Fort Collins Utilities, pricing
Information and Education
Stakeholder engagement, credible resources
Privacy and Security
Policies, procedures
Connections and Metrics
City policies, reporting
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VISION AND MOTIVATIONS
Fort Collins is a leader in the transition to sustainable and resilient local energy systems to serve the community' s 2050
carbon neutral future.
MOTIVATIONS
The Energy Policy seeks to :
• Maintain or improve the reliability of energy delivery
• Promote energy affordability and safety for residents, businesses and institutions
• Support reductions of the community's GHG emissions from energy use in accordance with the Climate Action Plan
( CAP ) Framework ( March 2015 ) — the current community GHG goals are a reduction of 20 percent from 2005 levels
by 2020, 80 percent by 2030 and carbon neutral by 2050
• Reduce the emission of criteria pollutants
• Reduce the environmental damage caused by energy extraction and production
• Leverage the role of Fort Collins Utilities Light & Power as the community' s municipally owned utility
• Retain more of our community's energy expenditures in the local economy
• Foster local economic opportunity in energy efficiency, production and operation
• Leverage opportunities to coordinate integrated planning for energy and water supply and demands
• Increase our community' s resilience to potential energy and climate related disruptions
• Maintain compliance with and leverage the potential benefits of local, regional, state and national regulatory
frameworks, which impact energy production and use (e . g., carbon, fuel standards, ozone)
• Make Fort Collins an energy leader that can serve as a model for other communities
The Energy Policy also recognizes Fort Collins greenhouse gas emission responsibilities through its ownership in Platte River
Power Authority ( Platte River) . As a local action agency, generation and transmission authority, Platte River operates
electricity generation facilities on behalf of the member-owner cities of Fort Collins, Loveland, Longmont and Estes Park.
These facilities include fossil fuel resources (coal and natural gas), as well as non -carbon resources ( hydro, wind and solar) .
Fort Collins, as a member-owner of Platte River, is responsible for an ownership allocation of the associated carbon
emissions . As of 2014 the share was 47 percent.
FORT COLLINSCHARACTERIZATION
As a framework for understanding the challenges facing the envisioned transition of the community's energy systems, the
following charts illustrate the diversity of Fort Collins energy sources and end use sectors in both primary energy and
greenhouse gas metrics . Electricity is the largest single energy use source of GHG emissions, followed by transportation
fuels and natural gas used for heating and industrial processes. By sector, residential emissions are followed by industrial
and commercial, respectively, but ground travel is higher than any of the building sectors based on 2014 data .
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Fort Collins Energy Profile (2014 data)
Built Environment Transportation
Renewables
Primary Fuels (5%) Coal (17%) Natural gas (38%) Petroleum (40%)
End Use EnergyGasoline & Diesel
Electricity (23 /) Natural gas (38 /) (40%)
i id esental 25% Commercial o a
End Use Sector R ( ) (14%) Industrial (21 /) Transportation (40 /)
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
Energy Percent
Greenhouse Gas Emissions Profile (2014 data)
Primary Fuel
Coal (53%) Natural gas (19%) Petroleum (28%)
Waste
1101111111111
End Use Energy Electricity (50%) Natural Gas (19%) Gasoline and Diesel — (3%)
(28%)
Waste
End Use Sector � ( 3%)
Transportation (28%) Residential (25%) Industrial (22%) Commercial (20%)
(2%)
Other
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
GHG Emissions Percent
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POLICY OBJECTIVES
BUILT ENVIRONMENT
The building sector is Fort Collins' top energy consumer and contributor to greenhouse gas emissions. Efficiency measures
are generally the lowest cost resource available, compared to traditional or renewable supply-side choices. For new
construction, building right the first time locks in energy savings and offers benefits for decades to come . By reducing the
overall demand for energy, efficiency also makes all supply-side options more feasible and cost effective . As the carbon
intensity of the electricity supply reduces over time, electrification of heat and process loads from natural gas becomes an
additional strategy for reducing emissions from the built environment.
IMPROVE PERFORMANCE OF NEW BUILDINGS
• Adopt and enforce current International Energy Conservation Codes ( IECC) within one year of issuance, with local
amendments, advancing efficiency, indoor environmental quality, installed performance and readiness for
building-scale renewable energy and demand response .
• Promote building energy performance through above-code standards with market and incentive approaches .
IMPROVE PERFORMANCE OF EXISTING BUILDINGS AND PROCESS ENERGY USE
• Support the reduction of natural gas use in the community through efficiency programs, information resources,
and partnerships with other organizations to achieve targets in alignment with the CAP .
• Support the continuous energy use reduction in all building types and industrial processes through verifiable and
cost-effective efficiency and conservation programs. As a percentage of community electricity use, achieve
incremental annual electric portfolio savings of efficiency and conservation program savings of: '
Year Savings Target — %
2015 1 . 5
2016 1 . 75
2017 1 . 75
2018 2 .0
2019 2 .0
2020 2 . 5
1 Incremental is defined as "new" savings achieved in a given year; maintaining existing behavioral program savings counts
towards the total community annual results, but not towards the incremental target. In 2013 and 2014, incremental
portfolio savings was 1 . 5% and total portfolio savings was 2 . 2%. The reference basis of the annual percentage energy use
savings target is the average of community electric energy use for three years ( including the target year) . Cost effectiveness
is to be calculated on the overall program portfolio using the Program Administrator Test, where utility incentive and
administration costs for lifetime energy savings is less than the blended electricity supply price ( or natural gas unit price
where applicable) .
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ELECTRICITY SUPPLY . DISTRIBUTION
Design and maintain an electricity distribution infrastructure to facilitate a diverse, efficient, economical, reliable, clean and
secure transition to higher levels of renewable energy sources, both distributed and utility scale. This energy system
includes infrastructure at the customer, local distribution and regional generation and transmission scale . The infrastructure
also must deploy communication and control technology to manage the balance of distributed supply resources and
customer demand . Since both the community waste stream and energy resources contribute to the community' s
greenhouse gas emissions, waste-to-energy may become a viable resource in the future . Fort Collins should seek
opportunities to include electricity storage, as it is expected to become a transformational component of the electricity
supply system .
ELECTRIC SUPPLY RESOURCES
The following Fort Collins objectives support resource diversity and increasing amounts of renewable energy sources 2 :
• Increase the diversity of the electricity supply by reducing the percentage contribution of coal-derived electricity to
less than 60 percent by 2020
• Increase the overall amount of renewable energy to a minimum of 20 percent by 2020
• Increase the amount of distributed renewable energy to provide a minimum of 2 percent of community electricity
requirements by 20203
• Seek opportunities for local distributed generation resources such as combined heat and power and biomass in
alignment with the CAP Framework
• Coordinate with Platte River to achieve a 20 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2020
RELIABILITY
Demonstrate the high reliability of the Fort Collins electric system by maintaining annual reliability metrics of:
• Average System Availability Index (ASAI ) greater than 99 . 9956 percent
• Customer Average Interruption Index (CAIDI ) less than 45 minutes
• System Average Interruption Frequency Index (SAIFI ) less than 0. 66
ELECTRIC DISTRIBUTION
Z Qualifying renewable resources as defined by the Colorado Renewable Energy Standard : " Renewable energy
resources" are biomass ( plant matter, animal waste, methane from landfills and wastewater treatment), solar,
geothermal, wind and new hydro with a nameplate rating of 10 megawatts ( MW) or less .
3 Distributed renewable generation as defined by the Colorado Renewable Energy Standard : Retail distributed
generation is, by definition, customer-sited ( behind the meter) and also subject to an annual onsite energy
consumption net metering cap of 120 percent. Wholesale or non-customer sited, distributed generation is
defined as any renewable electric resource less than 30MW in nameplate capacity that is not retail distributed
generation .
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The electric distribution system is a key asset in the long-term vision of the Energy Policy, supported by the following
objectives :
• Complete the Electric Distribution Asset Management plan by the end of 2016 . The distribution system plan should
include addressing proposed distributed generation and demand response targets .
• Increase the available peak dispatch capacity of the demand response system to 5 percent of annual peak loads
by 2020.
• Develop plans for demand response integration with Platte River and the other cities to improve and understand
demand response values as a system resource. Review the demand response capacity targets on an annual basis
with regards to system value and pricing .
• Develop distribution modeling capabilities to support the asset management plans and grid modernization for
distributed resource management.
• Participate in research, development and demonstration efforts to remain at the forefront of emerging
technologies and holistic innovative solutions .
TRANSPORTATION AND LAND USE
Transportation is vital to our community, enabling us to move from where we live to where we work, learn, shop, recreate,
and play. Fort Collins' transportation is fueled almost entirely by gasoline and diesel, accounting for over half of our city's
total energy expenses, over 40 percent of total energy consumption, significant amounts of local air pollutants ( NOx, SOx,
and particulates) and 28 percent of GHG emissions.
The City's land use and transportation policies are established by City Plan, the Land Use Code and the Transportation
Master Plan . These plan documents strive to foster and sustain a "connected community" that maintains high levels of
mobility, while reducing the environmental, social and economic costs of our transportation systems . Since transportation
demand and the feasibility of walking, cycling and public transit are determined by the mix, layout and density of land uses,
as well as population size, the City should continue enhancing its system of integrated land use and transportation planning.
In order to responsibly manage energy resources, improve air quality and reduce GHG impacts associated with
transportation and land use, this Energy Policy encourages an emphasis on the following objectives :
• Reduce total vehicle miles travelled (VMT), while maintaining mobility options, with a goal to reduce VMT by
10 percent ( below 2005 levels) by 2020
• Reduce fossil fuel use per VMT
In support of these objectives, the Energy Policy recommends :
• Development of VMT annual estimation techniques which support the objectives of City transportation and energy
policies prior to the next revision of the Transportation Master Plan
DEVELOPMENT , REDEVELOPMENT AND PARKING
Fort Collins is expected to substantially grow in population over the timeframe of the Energy Policy. "Smart growth" refers
to transportation and land use planning that emphasizes urban density, mixed-use residential , commercial and recreational
areas, multimodal transportation systems and pedestrian and bicycle-friendly streets. It is expected that Fort Collins
residents will choose to drive less if the places where they live, work, learn and play are accessible in ways other than by
automobile. The City Plan and Transportation Master Plan contain many smart growth policies that advance the objectives
identified by this Energy Policy. With Fort Collins anticipated growth, greater emphasis on smart growth is essential to
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minimizing transportation related energy impacts. This Energy Policy recommends increased efforts to implement smart
growth related initiatives that ensure effective application of these principles.
Parking and congestion issues are emerging considerations that influence low-impact transportation options. This Energy
Policy encourages continued assessment of the public costs of parking and automobile congestion in developing or
amending parking and traffic congestion policies.
In order to effectively manage the expected energy impacts of on -going growth and development, the Energy Policy
recommends :
• Developing energy related metrics for projects going through the development review process in coordination with
the CAP implementation plan and prior to the next update of the City Plan
MULTIMODAL TRANSPORTATION
In order to advance the objectives of reduced VMT and reduced fossil fuel use per mile, the Energy Policy recognizes the
importance of alternatives to automobile travel : walking, biking, carpooling and public transit. Through City Plan and the
Transportation Master Plan, the City should continue encouraging the use of these modes through infrastructure and
programming.
In addition to City Plan and the Transportation Master Plan, other planning documents such as corridor plans, area plans
and modal plans, establish policies and action items at varying scales . Many of these plans, such as the 2011 Pedestrian
Plan, the 2014 Bicycle Master Plan and the 2009 Transfort Strategic Operating Plan, advance Energy Policy objectives as
they relate to transportation system energy use . The Energy Policy encourages implementation of existing plan elements
that contribute to achievement of these objectives.
Information technologies are transforming how people live and how cities function . Mobile communication devices in
particular, help commuters with smart trip planning by providing access to transit routes and schedules, bike- and car-
sharing availability and traffic conditions. This Energy Policy encourages continued investment in intelligent transportation
systems, either through City-crafted trip- planning software, or by releasing transportation data to the public so application
developers can create trip-planning products for the market .
In order to more effectively manage the opportunities for mitigating transportation energy impacts, the Energy Policy
recommends :
• Developing metrics reflecting multi- modal transportation use prior to the next revision of the Transportation
Master Plan
FUEL - FFFICIENT AND ELECTRIC VEHICLES
Increased adoption of more fuel-efficient and electric vehicles in Fort Collins means the reduction of petroleum fuels and
their associated negative consequences. The City can help residents with data regarding the advantages of high -efficiency,
hybrid and electric vehicle choices and by promoting the development of clean vehicle fueling infrastructure . As the carbon
intensity of the electricity supply reduces over time, electric vehicles become an essential strategy for reducing emissions
from ground transportation . Next steps include :
• Develop metrics for fleet average fuel efficiency and the number of electric vehicles in Fort Collins prior to the next
revision of the Transportation Master Plan
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ELEMENTS OF THE TRANSPORTATION MASTER PLAN PERTAINING TO ENERGY
The current Transportation Master Plan states these principles which further support this Energy Policy:
• Reduce congestion and vehicle idle time
• Integrate alternative vehicle technology and advances
• Enhance travel corridors to improve transportation efficiency, as well as enabling alternative transportation modes
• Improved access to bicycle and pedestrian trails
• Create fixed transit corridors to promote transit-oriented development
The Transportation Master Plan is periodically amended and updated to address changing conditions and policies. The
Transportation Master Plan should advance Energy Policy objectives by considering these principles during future updates :
• Reduce community VMT
• Reduce fossil fuel use per VMT
• Support pedestrian and bike-friendly layout
ELEMENTS OF LAND USE PLANNING PERTAINING TO ENERGY
City Plan and the Land Use Code are periodically amended and updated to address changing conditions and policies. City
Plan and the Land Use Code should further advance Energy Policy objectives through the consideration of these principles
during future updates :
• Regularly review the Land Use Code to support high performance development projects and local renewable
energy generation and storage
• Continue the advancement of land use principles promoting infill, redevelopment and additional planning
initiatives
• Explore ways to enable and encourage property owners to maximize the use of shared resources such as combined
heat and power, geo-exchange and energy storage
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IMPLEMENTATION PRINCIPLES
The follow principles provide guidance for developing strategies to achieve Energy Policy goals, while supporting
community values . Efforts to achieve the goals should leverage existing programs and services to maximize participation
among Fort Collins residents, businesses and institutions.
SYSTEMS THINKING
Energy is generated, transmitted and consumed through complex, interrelated systems . As such, the decisions made on any
component must be evaluated by their impacts on the other related components . The economic, environmental, social and
operational aspects of these components should be evaluated as systems from source to consumption .
The Energy Policy encourages a systems approach in looking at the interactions of utilities, buildings, land use planning and
streets . Additionally, it promotes the provision of energy infrastructure beyond electricity and natural gas across traditional
project and parcel boundaries. This infrastructure could extend to thermal energy systems and electrical energy storage.
PARTNERSHIP
The City has a wide range of local and regional energy partners . These partnership resources can best be used through
continued engagement, collaboration, data -sharing and program development .
• Platte River: Platte River provides generation and transmission electric services for Fort Collins, Loveland,
Longmont and Estes Park, and is owned jointly by the four cities . Platte River is an essential partner in support of
Fort Collins' Energy Policy goals, including electricity supply and customer efficiency programs and services .
• Platte River member cities : The four Platte River member cities each have unique needs and philosophies to meet
their community goals. There are many opportunities to work together to build strong, efficient and clean
electrical energy systems in a cost-effective manner. Future electricity markets may provide regional opportunities
to support accomplishing the goals of the Energy Policy.
• Educational and research institutions : Colorado State University is one of the City' s largest customers and a leading
energy research institution .
• Xcel Energy: Xcel provides natural gas to city residents and businesses and electric services to residents with
important coordination needs relating to data exchange, reporting and customer efficiency efforts with a regional
approach .
• Private enterprise : Collaboration and public-private partnerships will be an important avenue in accomplishing
Energy Policy goals through research, development, demonstration and implementation efforts.
• Other governmental organizations : The City should continue to partner with other governmental organizations
such as the Poudre School District, U .S. Department of Energy, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Colorado
Energy Office and Larimer County to name a few.
• Community organizations : Fort Collins residents acting through formal and informal organizations are key
stakeholders and provide an important engagement opportunity.
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LOCAL ECONOMIC HEALTH
This Energy Policy aligns with Fort Collins' leadership in the transition to a clean-energy economy. The City has the potential
to stimulate local innovation and entrepreneurial activity, attract new partners and outside capital and encourage funding
for cutting edge research and development. The City of Fort Collins can help facilitate projects to stimulate private industry
to achieve policy goals while also improving the local economy. The City also should be a leader in deploying efficiency,
conservation and renewable energy in its own operations to demonstrate the feasibility of strategies and tactics . The
community can benefit from the creation of quality jobs from the implementation of strategies in support of Energy Policy
goals.
FORT COLLINS UTILITIES LIGHT & POWER
Fort Collins Utilities has supported our local economy with highly reliable service and a history of low and stable electric
rates. Going forward, competitive rates combined with energy efficiency and conservation programs to result in sustainable
energy bills, while supporting economic activity. Fort Collins Utilities' business activities also support the local economy as a
direct and indirect employer and as a contributor to the City' s general fund, by leveraging investment in energy efficiency
and renewable energy and by supporting research and demonstration projects .
It is important to maintain the financial health of the Fort Collins Utilities Light & Power enterprise fund to support the
vision of the Energy Policy. The century-old model of the electric utility is rapidly changing due to technological and market
forces . Fort Collins Utilities must be allowed to lead this change to the community advantage . At the same time, Fort Collins
is one of four member owners of Platte River Power Authority. Changes from the existing centralized power generation
model toward distributed and variable resources should be developed in coordination with Platte River, considering overall
system impacts, costs, and operations .
Light & Power should seek to pilot new services and models for existing services to explore the best ways to take advantage
of new opportunities to advance this Energy Policy and maintain the Utilities' financial health .
ELECTRICITY PRICING
Electricity pricing provides a direct connection for citizens and businesses to relate to the community energy system . Fort
Collins Utilities should provide predictable long-term directions with regards to rate structures and pricing. The pricing of
electrical energy should strive to balance the following principles :
• Reflect the short-term and long-term costs, both direct and indirect, of generating and delivering electricity
• Demonstrate equity and fairness by distributing costs over the customer base in proportion to the cost of service
• Consider both per unit costs ( rates) and total bills in comparisons of competitiveness and affordability
• Promote efficiency and conservation with meaningful price signals
• Set a clear, public, long-term direction for electric rates with gradual changes
• Develop rates in the context of long-term asset planning, fixed cost recovery and financial stability
• Incorporate robust stakeholder engagement
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INFORMATION AND EDUCATION
Fort Collins Utilities and other City departments should continue to facilitate participation in programs and services through
education and partnerships that build trust with community stakeholders and the public to enhance Utilities' reputation as
a world-class utility and the best source of energy information .
The City should continue to be a credible and effective source of information and education for the community with regards
to energy issues and an objective of fostering a resilient and engaged community. Key outcomes include :
• Provide citizens and business owners with information on energy sources and related financial and environmental
data
• Provide citizens and business owners tailored options for managing, producing and reducing energy use
• Create collaborative and strategic relationships within the community
PRIVACY AND SECURITY
Fort Collins Utilities will continue to :
• Institute policies, procedures and equipment to secure its distribution, generation, control and communication
systems against misuse
• Maintain privacy and security policies relating to personal data so customers are assured of privacy and security of
their data and informed of how their data may be used
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CONNECTIONS AND METRICS
CONNECTIONS O OTHER PLANS AND . . ,
Energy Policy goals are closely related to the goals, principles and policies in other City plans and programs and with those
of Platte River. For example, GHG reduction, efficiency, conservation and reducing air, water and soil pollution are common
to a number of plans and programs . By emphasizing the alignment between programs, the City can identify opportunities to
implement actions that benefit multiple programs simultaneously.
The plans and programs that directly address or are closely connected to energy include :
• Climate Action Plan
• Platte River Power Authority Strategic Resource Plans
• City Plan
• Transportation Master Plan
• Building and land use codes
• Water Efficiency Plan
• Green Building Roadmap
• Road to Zero Waste
• Air Quality Plan
• Economic Health Strategic Plan
• City Strategic Plan
• Social Sustainability Strategic Plan
IMPLEMENTATION
City and Utilities resources for implementation of the Energy Policy will be managed through the normal and customary
processes for budgeting, appropriations and rate setting .
The Utilities Executive Director will provide the City Manager, Energy Board and City Council with an annual status report on
the Energy Policy. The report will document progress on the goals and objectives, costs and benefits of policy initiatives and
updated strategic planning.
POLICY
The Energy Policy will be reviewed and revised at five year intervals with the next review concluding in 2020. If necessary,
more frequent reviews may be recommended by the Energy Board or City Council to adapt to significant goal changes or to
align with other City plans .
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