The process by which an energy plan is developed is perhaps more important to the success of the planning effort than the final document! Think of the energy plan as a way to mobilize people, institutions and resources so that the good ideas expressed in the plan becomes reality. Decision makers, staff of city or town departments and citizens representing different parts of the community are all very important advocates for the energy plan. Involving and informing this diverse group during the process of plan development helps build support for recommendations of the plan and invites participants to examine how to improve the habits of energy use in their department or organization.
Step 2: Clarify the responsibilities of the Task Force and establish deadlines
A short statement of purpose and a scope of work can help keep the group focused and enthusiastic.
Step 3: Make opportunities for public involvement an ongoing part of the planning process
A community’s citizenry as well as the political leaders should feel committed to the recommendations of the plan. This sense of ownership is created by ongoing, reciprocal information transfer. There are many ways to get people interested in the energy plan. At minimum, well advertised public hearings should be sceduled. Local business and environmental groups may be willing to take some responsibility for organizing forums and keeping the planning process alive in the newspaper!
Step 4: Assemble Background Information/Baseline Data
This information will be used to determine the towns current sources of energy supply and patterns of energy consumption. Energy measurements should be presented in both physical and economic units. This data will help estimate future consumption and provide the the basis for monitoring future progress. The hotlinked file contents explain how and where to collect info and provide worksheets that help organize background infromation into a form that can be clearly presented.
Step 5: Analyze Background Information/Baseline Data
The purpose of this analysis is to define local energy issues in the framework of traditional planning goals and to identify opportunities for saving energy and money.
(linked file contents)
Fill-in forms and worksheets eg WSEO)???
Questions to ask about local energy supplies and demand: (from CEC p.iii-1)
1. Where do the community’s energy supplies come from
2. Are these supplies reliable, diverse, affordable
3. What are the environmental impacts of these energy supplies
4. How much of this energy is used by the various sectors within the community (both in absolute and relative terms), and how do these patterns of supply and consumption compare to other areas
5. Where are there opportunities for improving energy efficiency and for replacing imported supplies with local renewable production
6. Are there economic development opportunities in renewable energy and efficiency projects
7. Is the community’s use of energy compatable with other local goals
Step 6: Develop presentation materials and hold informational meetings
(linked file contents) = educational materials
Step 7: Adopt a policy statement that explains why the energy planning process is being underaken.
This policy statement should be based on the input from meetings and interviews with citizens and town departments. Local energy policies and programs should be linked to broader community goals affecting economic, social and environmental well-being. This (linked) policy statement should be circulated to the different departments of the municipal government and throughout different sectors of the community. Economic as well as environmental opportunities that were revealed during the analysis of background information should be included. This will help the public realize how the energy plan will benefit them and the community.
((linked file contents) should be examples of policy statements see Earthright p 4, )
The community’s general plan/master plan will probably have a statement of goals regarding land use, transportation, housing, energy and the environment.
Developing a policy statement:
Interviewing local government staff and elected officials both reveals issues that the energy plan can address and begins to inform decision makers about the link between energy and other community goals. (Link to model interview from Sustainable Energy)
What are the concerns of the business community and neighborhood groups.
Which department are allies
Where are there points of disagreement and how can you work with differences of opinion (link to Sustainable Energy p. 18)
Step 8: Develop a quantifiable goal that reflects the priorities of the community
Goals broadly describe the overriding purpose of the plan and give direction to the policy objectives and recommendations. It is important to identify a measurable goal and a timeframe within which the goals should be achieved. The goals of other communities are listed here to illustrate the spectrum of goals that an energy plan can address.
Step 9: Identify objectives/recommendations that will help achieve the plan’s goals
(linked file contents) Wherever possible, create cooperative projects with the support of other agencies and departments that accomplish both energy and other community goals. The air is cleaner if less fossil fuels are burned. Energy efficient devices and conservation measures reduce the amount of money residents and businesses pay out each month. Greater use of public transportation and other alternatives to the single occupancy automobile reduce congestion and improve air quality. Examples of where saving energy can meet other program goals:
Reducing traffic congestion by promoting off-peak work hours or telecommuting also saves gas and greatly enhances air quality
Making housing more affordable by weatherization programs lowes energy bills and energy waste
Reducing the operating budget for municipally-run facilities through energy efficiency measures saves tax dollars and energy.
Improving local air quality by enhancing bicycle and pedestrian ways or promoting mized use developments reduces congestion and saves energy
Step 10: Specify programs/initiatives to meet the goals and objectives of the plan
This is the part of the energy plan on which future actions will be based so it should be written in a way that enables people to take the nex steps. Detail a few initiatives that will move the community closer to its stated goals instead of presenting a hopelessly long list of good ideas that are not fully explained. Even plans with long lists ultimately pare down for implementation. An appendix may be the best place for the big list while the energy plan itself focuses on the projects that should be implemented NOW. When pulling this section together, present easy to understand reasons for each recommendation. Cite backround sources of primary data to substantiate your claims! Illustrate with successes from other communities.
(linked file contents) should link to the other sections on techniques for..., renewable energy, energy efficiency with links to case studies)
It is often easier to agree on where you want to be than it is to decide on the specifics of how to get there. This step is about making choices and commitments on a range of programs. These programs have different costs and benefits with a spectrum of economic, social, political, environmental and other impacts. The choices that are made should evolve from the local facts that were gathered in Step XX as well as the real costs to the community of wasteful energy habits. These costs are not as easy to assess because they occur over a longer time horizon and are not adequately reflected in the cost of energy. These costs are real and several studies have been done to help planners and policymakers accurately evaluate the external costs and benefits of differnet energy scenarios.
(link to file)
Analyzing both the direct and the indirect costs and benefits of different programs
Simple payback
(how much does the energy cost, hwo much is saved by a particular measure, how long before the initial investment is covered by the money saved in reduced enery bills)
Returns on investment of energy savings: (see financing energy efficiency)
All of the costs of using fossil fuels do not show up on the energy bill. These costs include healthcare costs, crop damage, materials corrosion form pollutants, risk of energy supply interruptions, military costs to defend stategic oil reserves,
All of the benefits of using indigenous energy resources are not revealed in lower energy bills. Such benefits include the affect on the number of local jobs, the economic multiplier
Here are some ways to structure an analysis:
---------------------------------------------------------
Another consideration is to choose projects with varying time and resource requirements. Pick a couple of easily implemented, high impact efforts to get the ball rolling. Some initial results in the short term will make it easier to maintain momentum for longer-term initiatives.
Section 11. Assemble and adopt the plan
Think of this plan as a blueprint for action. As such it should be clearly written, concise (who wants to read an inch thick treatise) and contain a compelling , well-documented case for the recommendations it contains.
This section presents an organizational structure for the document
(linked file contents )
About the Plan: Economic, Environmental and Social Considerations
Executive Summary
Introduction
Baseline Data (Where our energy comes from and where it goes)
Methodology
Findings/Analysis (Opportunities uncovered)
Policy Statement
Goals Statement
Policy Recommendations (Objectives)
Target Programs/Initiatives
Challenges to Plan Implementation
Federal Policies
State Policies
Other Policies
Involving and Informing the Public
Maintaining a Long-term Commitment
Formally adopt the plan
Step 12: Implement the programs/initiatives
Making the right energy choices means more than planning; a paln is only as good as the actions taken to put it in place! To sustain the energy planning effort through the implementation stage, local enegy policies and programs should be linked to broader community goals affecting economic, social and environmental health.The details of numerous programs that have been successfully implemented in other comunities are listed in the Case Studies section of the EPN.
next screen
The Urban Consortium Energy Task Force Local Planning Guide for a Sustainable Future entitiled “Sustainable Energy” asserts that “the detrimental impacts of modern energy consumption proactices cannot be reversed overnight, so sutainable energy planning must be an ongoing, dynamic activity. Sustainable urban energy systems encompass more thatn energy efficiency and conservation. Such planning requires careful development, nurturing, implementation and review. It involves strong public support at all levels of the community. The key elements of a sustainable system include:
Consistent - Short term actions are compatible with long-term goals and the viability of the system
Renewable- The system depends on renewable resources and operates using environmentally benign technologies
Diverse - Distinct characteristics and capabilities among the individual elements of the system make the system better able to adapt to change
Inclusive - All elements of th system, including people, are valued and used for the good of both the individual parts and the whold
Interdependent - Each element of the system is both dependent on and depended on by several other elements; the grater the interconnection, the stronger the system (NOT)
Sustainable Cities
Use energy effectively in achieving other municipal goals such as affordable housing, efficient transportaiton systems, economic development, and job creation
Protect and maintain the quality of life by reducing environmntal problems associated with inefficient energy use
Contribute to national and local security by reducing vulnerability to predicited oil shortages and price increases
Sustainable Energy Planning Process
An 8 Step Sustainable Energy Planning Process (from Urban Consortium - Sustainable Energy)
1. Conduct an environmental scan to identify the impacts of energy use and determine presernt and future energy resource needs
2. Identify community goals and issues for policy planning
3. Build support for a sustainable enregy plan
4. Identify and analyze options - their costs, benefits, environmental effects, technological potential, and political acceptability
5. Adopt policies and strategies to direct future actions
6. Develop specific energy implementation plans
7. Implement new programs of actions
8. Evaluate program success, including energy and dollars saved, positive environmental effects, and specific lessons learned.
Step 13: Evaluate programs