Ordinance No. 20545 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Draft 9/29/14 J.Energy Element The Energy Element deals with the conservation and efficient use of energy in the metropolitan area and is meant to provide a long-range guide to energy-related decisions concerning physical development and land uses. The use of energy is essential for the development and operation of the urban area. Many vital processes, such as commercial and industrial activities; transportation of goods; and the lighting, heating, and cooling of buildings depend on energy supplies for their operation. In addition, our daily lives are greatly influenced by the consumption of energy for a vast number of purposes, such as automobile and home appliance use. As the cost of energy supplies increases and the availability of new energy sources decreases, we will continue to experience a greater need for conserving and efficiently using existing supplies. Many energy supplies are nonrenewable in that they are only produced once, as in the case of metals, or take hundreds of thousands of years to be produced, as in the case of petroleum and other fossil fuels. It is especially important to efficiently use and conserve energy sources in order that future generations will not unnecessarily suffer by their shortage or absence. Conservation makes possible the use of energy sources to serve greater numbers of people and also reduces the immediate need for the development of new centralized facilities, such as those required for the large-scale generation of electricity. While a number of specific decisions relating to energy can be made using the energy policies in this element, it is notwritten at the level of detail that would be required for it to serve as a comprehensive energy plan for the metropolitan area. Examples given in this element are used to illustrate statements and are not meant to be inclusive. Other specific examples that reflect the same statement can also be applied by the reader. As developments and data relating to energy production and conservation are rapidly changing, the findings, objectives, and policies of the Energy Element should be frequently monitored to ensure their relevancy. Goals 1.Maximize the conservation and efficient utilization of all types of energy. 2.Develop environmentally acceptable energy resource alternatives. Findings, Objectives, and Policies Findings 1.Energy conservation measures canserve as an energy source by making limited energy supplies serve greater numbers of users. III-J-1