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ATTACHMENT F <br />Green Infrastructure <br />– project description <br /> <br />GENERAL BACKGROUND <br />The goal of the Green Infrastructure project is to increase the energy <br />efficiency and economic competitiveness of downtown properties. <br />Businesses and property owners need assistance with specific building <br />upgrades, such as steam conversion to improve the functionality of <br />operating downtown. Targeted financial is especially needed given the <br />effect of the economic downturn on the availability of commercial financing. <br /> <br />The State of Oregon is actively working to be a national leader in the <br />electric vehicle industry. The City of Eugene is a partner in the State’s push <br />to add 100% electric vehicles, as well as supporting infrastructures (such as <br />charging stations), to communities. The current focus is in “electrifying” the <br />I-5 corridor, from Eugene to Portland, with opportunities for local action to <br />assist the effort. <br /> <br />JOBS/ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IMPACT <br />Impact Description Total <br />Temporary Construction Jobs based on cost of construction, business purchases related <br /> <br />33 <br /> <br />Related Jobsto construction, and employee purchases <br />180,000 therms <br /> <br />Energy SavingsSaved from steam conversion annually18 billion BTUs <br /> <br />$896,000 <br />Reduced operating costs for businesses; Supports downtown <br /> <br />Indirect Economic Impactsas a Green District; Encouragement of electric vehicle related <br /> <br />business <br /> <br />1 <br />Temporary Construction Related Jobs: <br /> With a projected total investment of $2 million, the Green <br />Infrastructure project will result in as many as 22 temporary construction jobs estimated to last 18 <br />months. In addition to the temporary construction jobs, the construction phase of the project will also <br />create jobs that support the construction industry such as production and transportation of construction <br />materials (a total of 11 indirect and induced jobs). <br /> <br />Energy Savings: <br /> Once complete, the energy efficiency of the newer systems will reduce utility costs <br />for operation. EWEB estimates that in the downtown area, converting to a gas system will reduce <br />2 <br />annual therms by 180,000, BTU’s by 18 billion, and costs by $896,000. <br /> <br />Indirect Economic Impacts: <br /> Energy efficiency projects supported by the City will help to attract <br />businesses and investors to the downtown area resulting in an ongoing, positive economic stimulus to <br />downtown. A focus on supporting redevelopment of existing structures will enhance the density of <br />commercial activity in the core area. <br /> <br /> <br />1 <br /> <br />Temporary construction jobs were calculated based on the estimated costs of construction. Staff applied the U.S. <br />Department of Energy standard: for every $92,000 invested in a project one temporary construction job will be created. <br />Staff also provided the estimated construction costs to the Oregon Employment Department to calculate the number of <br />temporary construction jobs that would be created by “new” money flowing into the local economy. <br />2 <br /> Project savings is the difference in annual steam cost and the cost of natural gas after transition. <br /> <br /> <br />