07/22/1987 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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Dick Briggs, 1401 Will amette, said he representated the Eugene Chamber of Commerce. He said Chamber of Commerce representatives expressed concern about e the complexity and intrusiveness of the ordinance before it was adopted. He said the regulations override people's desires for house design and placement and no cost-benefit or public need for the regulations was demonstrated. He said the regulations have caused problems and delays and the City loses support when it causes problems. Mr. Briggs said the City could adopt a process that would facilitate private negotiations about solar access. He recommended the setback regulations be revoked or changed. Gale Banry, 500 East 4th, is the Acting Conservation Manager for EWEB. He said EWEB supports energy conservation and the timely implementation of the solar access ordinance. He said Northwest Power Planning Council Model Conservation Standards for new homes and commercial buil di ngs must be incorporated into building codes or utility companies will have to pay a ten percent surcharge on electricity purchased from the Bonnevi 11 e Power Administration (PBA). The Oregon Legislature did not incorporate the standards into the State code. Consequently, EWEB customers may have to pay the surcharge. Mr. Banry said utility companies may adopt equivalent energy savings in lieu of building code enforcement of model conservation standards. The EWEB Super Good Cents Program for new homes promotes energy efficiency and the program includes solar designs. EWEB also offers a water and heat pump program. He . said solar designs are the lowest cost way of meeting energy standards. e Mr. Banry said solar access must be available and protected if individuals and the community are to benefit from new energy efficient homes and solar energy technology. He said the solar access ordinance will result in savings for people who invest in solar energy technology and may save money for all EWEB customers by helping to meet local and regional energy conservation goals. Answering questions from Mr. Bennett, Mr. Banry said a program to provide the same energy savings will be needed if the model conservation standards are not included in the State Building Code. He reviewed the Super Good Cents program and said the BPA standards can be met without solar technology if a large percentage of new homes are Super Good Cents homes. Mr. Bennett wondered why EWEB supports the solar access ordinance when the Super Good Cents Program is sufficient to avoid the BPA surcharge. Mr. Banry said the use of solar technology in new homes is offered by EWES and some customers want to add solar technology to existing homes. Bob Schafer, 86092 Lorane Highway, said he opposes the solar access ordinance because it increases costs and may result in people not wanting to buy new houses. He said two of three plans he submitted recently to the City did not comply with the code and it would be very difficult to make one of the plans comply. e MINUTES--Eugene City Council July 22, 1987 Page 7