2010

In Focus: 25 Retrofit Ramp-Up Projects

Photo credit: Department of Energy

One of the most exciting stories on Earth Day came from Vice President Joe Biden, who announced the 25 U.S. communities (including local governments, states, and regional organizations) that will receive $452 million in Recovery Act funding to “ramp-up” energy efficiency building retrofits. Congratulations to all these entities, including the nine ICLEI member local governments.

The planned large-scale retrofit programs constitute some of the most innovative new ideas in scaling up energy efficiency. In fact, the scale is incredible: We're talking about the retrofitting of potentially hundreds of thousands of buildings across the country by leveraging funding sources beyond the $452 million. The benefits: saving households and businesses $100 million a year, and creating 30,000 jobs.

A summary of each community's project is listed below (cut and pasted from the Department of Energy website). Browse them to learn the latest in energy efficiency innovation that may be replicable in your own community.

Leon County First in Florida to Launch Energy Financing Program

Photo credit: Ferret111 via Flickr

On April 13 the Leon County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously to approve a financing district for energy efficiency improvements (also called Property Assessed Clean Energy, or PACE), the first in the state of Florida. The program will begin with a pilot of 100 home energy audits. Participants will be able to take a loan of up to $6,500 to make energy efficiency improvements identified by the audit, such as envelop tightening, caulking, duct sealing, adding insulation, and replacing doors and windows. The loan will be paid back over 10 years through an assessment on the home's county property taxes. County building inspectors will check quality of work after completion.

If more than one-third of pilot participants want to move forward with energy efficiency work after the audit, the loan program will be launched. The County has allocated $40,000 from general funds for the pilot. If the program expands, they will work with local banks to obtain additional capital for the loans.

Several other counties and cities in Florida are interested in launching PACE programs. As the first, Leon County demonstrates considerable leadership and sets a precedent others can follow. Florida local governments have also been working to pass legislation at the state level that clarifies their authority to implement PACE programs and streamlines the process.

League of California Cities Retains "No Position" Stance on AB 32

Thursday marked a victory for supporters of AB 32, California's landmark legislation to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 25 percent by 2020. The Governing Board of the League of California Cities voted to defer a proposal from a League committee that asked the State of California to suspend or move back AB 32 implementation timetables because of fears that reducing emissions will be too costly and harm California businesses and local governments. The League retains its "no position" stance on AB 32, while at the same time recognizing the importance of reducing greenhouse gas emissions in California.

ICLEI applauds this vote, which sends a message across the state that implementing emissions reductions is the right course for California, both environmentally and economically. ICLEI's Executive Director Martin Chavez (former mayor of Albuquerque) addressed the League Board about AB 32, emphasizing the economic benefits to local governments that undertake emissions reductions through energy efficiency and renewable energy projects.

On the League website, League President and Hemet Council Member Robin Lowe offered this statement:

Earth Day Is Global, Local

As Earth Day turns 40, cities, towns, and counties across the U.S. join others around the world in honoring the Earth and encouraging people to do their part to address key environmental challenges like climate change, and to ensure that we leave a cleaner, healthier world to the next generation.

On Earth Day, Boston Mayor Menino Announces Climate Recommendations

From the Green Boston newsletter:

On Earth Day today, Boston Mayor Menino and Chief Jim Hunt were honored to have US EPA's Assistant Administrator Gina McCarthy on hand to help them accept the recommendations of the Mayor's Climate Action Leadership Committee and the Community Advisory Committee.  In a culmination of the committees' yearlong efforts to update the City's climate action plan, the summary report of their climate action recommendations was publicly released today at an event held at the Artists for Humanity USGBC LEED Platinum building in South Boston.

The report, "Sparking Boston's Climate Revolution," details progress toward Boston's goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions at least 25 percent by 2020. It outlines the economic benefits of various climate actions, and presents new strategies for consideration, such as giving climate adaptation initiatives the same priority as climate mitigation, and promoting climate action at the neighborhood level.

>> View the Report

Local Action Roundup

• Communicating the Risks of Climate Change (SolveClimate)

• Seattle, WA, Gets $20 Million Grant for Retrofits (Seattle Times)
  

• Atlanta, GA, Receives Earth Day Brownfields Award from EPA to Support BeltLine in Atlanta (EPA)
  

• Boston, MA, Proposes Wind Turbine that Could Power 800 Homes (Boston.com)
  

• City of Houston, TX, Commits to Sustainable Future, Kicks Off $23 Million Energy Efficiency Project With Schneider Electric (City of Houston, TX)
  

• DC Poised to Clean Up its Rivers, Bay with Smarter Water Practices (NRDC)
  

• Mayor Jones Launches “Green Richmond, VA, Initiative” (City of Richmond)
  

• Cattle-based Fuel Runs Oklahoma-Texas Passenger Train (Washington Post)
  

• Renewable Funding to Support Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) Programs in Santa Fe County, NM, Santa Barbara County, CA, and State of Louisiana (Renewable Funding LLC)

PlaNYC Progress Report 2010 Released

On Earth Day 2010, as it has done for the past three years, the City of New York released a detailed report on its progress toward the 10 long-term goals of PlaNYC, its groundbreaking sustainability plan.

“For three years, PlaNYC has changed the way New Yorkers think about their city and the future. We must continue to tackle the challenges we face and dream big. Our city and future generations are depending on it.” --Mayor Bloomberg

While City officials admitted that progress was slower than in previous years -- due primarily to the economic downturn and its effect on City budgets -- the breadth and scale of the results are impressive nonetheless:

Local Action Roundup

• Chicago, IL: First US City to Regulate Air Pollution? (The Christian Science Monitor)
  

• Blaine County, ID, Considers Green Building  (Sun Valley Online)
  

• Orange County, FL, launches OCHEEP! (My fox Orlando)
  

• Building a Sustainable Ann Arbor, MI (Ann Arbor Chronicle)
  

• Palo Alto, CA, council redoubles green efforts ahead of Earth Day (Mercury News)
  

• Kansas City, KS, gets $1.2M for Brownfield Cleanup (Business Journals)
  

• Baltimore, MD, Details Progress in Move toward Sustainability (Baltimore Sun)
  

• Santa Barbara County, CA, Likely to Start Issuing Green Loans (The Daily Sound)
  

• Energy Grants Powering Bright Ideas Throughout Rochester Area (Democrat and Chronicle)
  

• Going Green, Saving Green in Fairfax County, VA (Connection Newspapers)
  

Sustainability Planning Lessons from New York and Mayor Bloomberg

This column, by Martin J. Chavez, ICLEI USA Executive Director and former three-term mayor of Albuquerque, NM, originally appeared on Environmental Leader on April 19, 2010:

Politicians since Warren Harding have been vowing to “run government like a business,” usually with less success than advertised. Maybe the tired mantra should be retired—or updated to reflect the approach of Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who recognized that even though government is fundamentally different than the private sector, it can be run with a corporate managerial mindset. The best example of this may be the most ironic, to some: the New York Mayor’s groundbreaking approach to sustainability planning.

Three years ago on Earth Day, the Mayor launched PlaNYC, a comprehensive, long-term sustainability plan that has become recognized by other cities not only for its exceptional achievements, but for the innovative process with which it was developed. Mayor Bloomberg championed PlaNYC and shepherded its creation using pragmatic principles borrowed from the business world: an emphasis on innovation, a disciplined focus on goals and cost-benefit analysis, and a commitment to accountability made possible by tireless efforts to measure and analyze data. A new case study, PlaNYC: The Process Behind the Plan, shares the full story for local leaders eager to replicate New York’s success.

Department of Energy Taps ICLEI to Accelerate Solar Adoption

The Solar America Cities Program proved its success with 25 designated cities (all ICLEI members), and now the Department of Energy has selected ICLEI to help expand the program and bring solar training and guidance for up to 5,000 more local governments.

On April 13, 2010, DOE announced up to $10 million in funding over five years for ICLEI and International City-County Management Association (ICMA). Beginning in summer 2010, both organizations will be tasked with conducting outreach and training to thousands of local governments across the nation, sharing best practices for increasing solar energy use in their communities. ICLEI’s Executive Director Martin Chavez put the news in perspective: