Memorandum

City of Lawrence

City Manager’s Office

 

TO:

David L. Corliss, City Manager

Debbie Van Saun, Assistant City Manager

 

FROM:

Kevin Doyle, PE

Infrastructure & Development Coordinator

 

CC:

Tammy Bennett, Kathy Richardson

Lisa Patterson/Communications Department

 

Date:

April 4, 2007

 

RE:

Green Power Partnership / Green Power Community Campaign

 

Please include the following item on the consent agenda for the April 10, 2007 City Commission meeting.

Authorize the Mayor to sign the EPA Green Power Partnership Agreement and launch a Green Power Community Campaign in conjunction with Earth Day, April 21, 2007.

                                 

Project Description:  The Green Power Partnership is an EPA program designed to encourage the use of renewable energy (see attached brochure).  The Green Power Community Program is an extension of the Green Power Partnership designed to encourage community wide support and use of renewable energy (see attached overview).

The Partnership Agreement (see attached Agreement) includes three basic requirements:

  1. Purchase green power (renewable energy credits or Green Tags1) based on Partnership requirements (3% of municipal operations – completed, Fall 2006);
  2. Report on green power purchasing activities annually;
  3. Use the Green Power Partner mark appropriately.

As a Green Power Partner, the City receives formal recognition from the EPA and is allowed to publicize its participation in the program and use its Green Power Partner status for purposes that include:  economic development, public outreach, personnel recruiting, etc.

The Community Program is an extension of the basic Partnership that provides additional recognition once city-wide use of green power reaches some minimum level (2% for communities that exceed 100,000 MWh annually).

Currently, there are less than 10 Green Power Communities in the country, and staff would like to see City of Lawrence join this distinguished group.

Project History:  On September 20, 2006, the Recycling and Resource Conservation Advisory Board (RRCAB) recommended the City Commission purchase Green Tags as an initiative to support the U.S. Mayors’ Climate Protection Agreement and mentioned the EPA’s Green Power Community program (see attached letter). Based on 2005 municipal energy usage of approximately 28,970 MWh’s (3% of which is approximately 869 MWh) and citing the additional community benefits of purchasing Green Tags from the Bonneville Environmental Foundation (Zephyr Energy), Debbie Van Saun recommended that the City Commission purchase 870 Green Tags (See attached memo).  On September 26, 2006, The City Commission authorized the City Manager to purchase 870 Green Tags, and the purchase agreement was executed November 29, 2006.

Project Funding:  Funding for the 2006 Green Tag purchase ($8,690) was split equally between Utilities, Sanitation, and General Fund Overhead.  The Green Power Partnership Agreement has no additional funding requirements.  Future Green Tag purchase recommendations will be presented to the City Commission for its consideration at that time.

Initially, the Green Power Community Campaign is intended to utilize existing municipal functions, principally activities put on by the Waste Reduction and Recycling Division including Earth Day and the Home Energy Fair.  In addition, information regarding the campaign will be posted on city web sites and included in regular City press releases.

At this time, no additional funding is requested.  If future initiatives require additional funding, a memo outlining the initiative and defining the funding requirements will be presented to the City Commission for its consideration at that time.

Staff Recommendation:  Authorize the Mayor to sign the EPA Green Power Partnership Agreement and launch a Green Power Community Campaign in conjunction with Earth Day, April 21, 2007.