Item B: Community Climate and Energy Action Plan Update

Home Browse Search

CE–ICAP* ITY OF UGENE NTERNAL LIMATE CTION LAN Implementation Plan—2009 to 2020 b.Overview i.Methodology In September 2008, a staff team was assembled to formulate a plan to guide GHG reduction work within the City organization. Over the following eight months, the team solicited input on ways to reduce emissions and fossil fuel use from all City departments through departmental meetings and through a Think Tank intranet discussion. Over a hundred ideas, concepts and suggestions for action were received. Beginning in May 2009, the ideas were refined and combined into larger concepts. Over the next four months the estimated GHG reductions and financial impacts were calculated for 32 specific actions using information and assumptions compiled with the help of staff around the organization. (See Action Plan charts for detail of calculation assumptions). These actions were prioritized first by timeframe based on availability of technology and funding, then by GHG reduction potential, strategy and cost to form the basis for this Internal Climate Action Plan. ii.Assumptions and Uncertainty The Internal Climate Action Plan team established guidelines concerning the factors outside our control that may influence our ability to make progress toward our goal. Both funding and timing for measures may be affected by these factors, and a process has been established to re-evaluate actions should these underlying assumptions change. The following are high level assumptions incorporated into the priorities: Energy cost increases would remain moderate for several years, due to economic conditions, and then return to a more volatile state with the trend being a higher inflation rate than the general economy. Federal funding for efficiency, conservation and GHG reduction, whether through the stimulus effort or other mechanisms, would continue at higher levels than in the recent past for 3-4 years, with moderate decreases. The City would continue to pursue all forms of funding at a higher level than in the recent past. Advances in technology in electric vehicles, particularly plug-in hybrids, would be available for our use within 2-3 years. These are likely to be adopted relatively slowly at first due to capital costs. Other technological advances, in areas such as renewable vehicle fuels, photovoltaic manufacturing or food waste recycling are likely within the decade covered by the plan. The group agreed that, given the aggressive nature of the Council goal, technological advances of a large magnitude will be required within 5-7 years. Operational Emissions Reductions by Timeframe-Scope 1 and 2 iii. 13 *Plan adopted as a framework; subject to additional edits. Plan may be modified pending implementation.