A Plan for Energy | Green Energy News

May 4, 2008 – Vol.13 No.7

A PLAN FOR ENERGY. (Page 3)

Transportation Sector Strategies:

--- Biofuels Promotion. Action: Promote the use of sustainably produced biofuels.

--- Vehicle-to-Grid. Plug-in hybrid vehicles could provide storage capacity to power the electric grid during the many hours of the day that they sit idle. Action: Promote opportunities for vehicle-to-grid power through education, pilot projects, and incentives.

--- Clean Car Incentive. A clean car incentive charges users of less fuel-efficient vehicles a fee and applies the funds from this fee, as an incentive, to the purchasers of more fuel-efficient vehicles. Action: Encourage adoption of a statewide Clean Car Incentive program for Colorado and as a countywide program as part of the vehicle registration process.

--- Clean Car Standard for Colorado. The “California Clean Car” standard gives car companies until 2016 to achieve a 30 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from new cars, pickups, minivans, and SUVs sold in the state. At least twelve other states are moving to adopt the rules. Action: Encourage the state to adopt the standards.

Renewable Power Strategies:

--- Renewable Portfolio Standard. The Colorado state legislature passed legislation in 2007 strengthening the state’s Renewable Portfolio Standard, these efforts may not be sufficient to meet Boulder County’s Sustainability goals. Action: Seek legislation encouraging an even stronger standard.

--- Concentrating Solar Project. Action: Identify partners and project sites in Boulder County to encourage the demonstration of these technologies.

--- Community Wind Farm. Action: Explore county/municipal and county participation in building a multi-turbine farm to deliver a significant amount of wind power to the community.

--- Sustainable Energy Financing District. Local governments are exploring the use of a bond mechanism to finance low interest loans repaid by a transferable property tax assessment or other secured means to accelerate installation and adoption of sustainable energy systems. Action: Investigate the application in Boulder County or Colorado.

--- Solar-Powered Public Buildings. Action: Install PV and solar thermal systems in public buildings.

--- Maximum Rooftop PV. Action: Provide incentives, such as a “solar cooperative” and/or building codes, to maximize the use the largest rooftops in Boulder County as the source of the most cost-effective PV.

Utility Partnerships:

--- Maximum Use of Rebate Incentives. Boulder County energy providers all offer incentive programs to reduce the upfront costs of energy efficiency and renewable energy projects. Action: Assess and implement a broad range of educational and assistance programs ensuring the maximum use of these funds.

--- Utility Demand and Power Supply Incentives. Several utilities are currently revisiting or renewing their incentive programs for energy demand management and renewable energy supplies. Action: Collaboratively investigate and pursue alternative power mix strategies with Boulder County power suppliers.

--- Carbon Labeling. Electricity bills could include information on the carbon dioxide equivalent of the energy that was used the previous month. Action: Work with utilities to provide carbon information on monthly electricity bills.

Revenue Generation:

--- Energy Budgets and Rate Structures. Similar to what communities are doing with water charges, create a rate structure that incentivizes conservation. Action: Create energy budgets for home/office use and charge a higher rate for usage above that amount or as a ratepayer moves into higher tiers of energy use.

--- Revolving Loan Fund. Action: Create a revolving loan fund to cover the startup costs of a large-scale energy-efficiency program.

--- Climate Offset Credits. Climate credits can allow for the purchase of more cost-effective greenhouse gas reductions to offset this use. Funds generated could be used to enhance community renewable energy supplies. Action: Allow businesses or residents to contribute funding to enhance existing energy.

--- Targeted Sales Taxes. Statutory cities and counties lack the taxation tools to incentivize energy efficiency and renewable energy designs. Action: Seek legislative authority to implement targeted sales tax strategies, such as vehicle registration or carbon taxes.

Boulder County and many of the municipalities have already implemented or begun implementing programs that embody some of the key actions, including energy awareness sweeps, discounts on efficient light bulbs, low-cost home energy audits, green building standards and solar installations for public buildings and green residential building codes.

Links:

Boulder County Sustainability Initiative
http://www.bouldercounty.org/sustain

Sustainable Energy Plan: Boulder County Consortium of Cities Energy Strategy Task Force, April 2008
http://www.bouldercounty.org/sustain/pdf/SustainableEnergyPlan.pdf

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