WHY DO WE NEED COMMUNITY ENERGY PLANS?
- To reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions in communities
- To inform public officials during goal setting and budget decisions
- Focus is on reduction strategies over which local governments have control
HOW DO WE DO COMMUNITY ENERGY PLANS?
- International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI) Regional Membership
- ICLEI is the leading global network of local governments dedicated to sustainability, resilience, and climate action
- ICLEI Regional membership gives local governments access to ICLEI’s extensive tools and resources through the University of Northern Iowa Conservation Corps
- ICLEI’s ClearPath software – a powerful, advanced web application for energy and emissions management
- Government Track: Energy use in the local government’s operations
- Community Track: Energy use for the entire community
ICLEI’s 5 STEP COMMUNITY ENERGY PLANNING PROCESS
Leadership commitment needed to start process
- Develop GHG Emissions Inventory (Community, Government, or Both)
- Includes a “business-as- usual” forecast
- Set sustainability goals including a reduction target
- Example: Reduce emissions 50% below 2015 baseline levels by 2030
- Develop Community Energy Plan
- Stakeholder meeting(s); brainstorm possible reduction strategies
- Develop reduction strategies and plan implementation for strategies
- Write the plan
- Implement the Plan
- Monitor and Evaluate Implementation Progress
- Annual progress reports, update GHG emissions inventory