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HomeMy WebLinkAboutRes 2013-09 - Desert Cities Energy Partnership CITY OF PALM DESERT STAFF REPORT REQUEST: APPROVE THE CITY OF PALM DESERT JOINING THE COACHELLA VALLEY ASSOCIATION OF GOVERNMENT'S DESERT CITIES ENERGY PARTNERSHIP SUBMITTED BY: Martin Alvarez, Director of Economic Development DATE: February 14, 2013 CONTENTS: Resolution No. 2013-09 Desert Cities Energy Partnership Resolution Recommendation By Minute Motion: 1. Approve the City of Palm Desert joining the Coachella Valley Association of Government's Desert Cities Energy Partnership. Backqround In January 2007, the City of Palm Desert initiated a five-year pilot energy partnership with Southern California Edison, The Gas Company and the Energy Coalition. The pilot program established the Set to Save Program, which set a goal of reducing City-wide peak energy demand and energy consumption by 30% within a 5 year period. The Set to Save Program utilized funding from California Public Utility Commission (CPUC) and implemented the use of community education, marketing, innovative programs, and rebates to assist in reducing energy consumption. The Palm Desert Energy Partnership concluded on December 31, 2012. Although the 30% energy reduction goal was not entirely reached, the Set to Save Program was successful in reaching a large sector of the community in promoting energy efficiency, including saving over 106 million kilowatt hours of energy, which is approximately a 15% city-wide energy reduction. The program was also successful in assisting the City in reducing its greenhouse gas emissions. Through the energy savings achieved, the Set to Save Program was responsible for eliminating over 80,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide, equal to removing annual greenhouse gas emissions from over 15,000 vehicles. A complete and final report on the Set to Save results is currently being compiled by SCE and the report will be presented to the City Council at a future date. Desert Cities Energy Partnership: In 2009, the Coachella Valley Association of Governments (CVAG) initiated a valley wide energy partnership known as the Desert Cities Energy Partnership (DCEP). The partnership includes Southern California Edison, Imperial Irrigation District, The Gas Company and Staff Report CVAGs Desert Cities Energy Partnership Page 2 of 2 February 14, 2013 CVAG member cities. The goal of the DCEP is "to help local governments effectively lead their communities to increase energy efficiency, reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, protect air quality and ensure that their communities are more livable and sustainable." The partnership provides performance-based opportunities for Coachella Valley jurisdictions to demonstrate energy efficiency leadership in our communities through energy saving actions. The DCEP recently received funding approval by the CPUC through 2014. During the final month of the Palm Desert Energy Partnership, staff discussed with CVAG the possibility of joining the DCEP once the Set to Save Program concluded. Recently, CVAG's Executive Committee approved a resolution supporting the City of Palm Desert joining the DCEP. Staff has prepared a resolution for the City of Palm Desert to officially support the City joining CVAGs Energy Partnership. If the resolution is approved, both the Director of Economic Development and the City's Sustainability Coordinator will participate in the DCEP meetings, programs and projects to continue our efforts started by Set to Save to support energy efficiency and reduction of GHG emissions within the community and valley wide. In addition to participating in the DCEP programs, staff will continue to provide the Energy Independence Program (energy loan program) as a tool to help property owners improve their energy efficiency and install renewable energy. Staff recommends approval. Fiscal Analvsis The DCEP is funded through the end of 2014 by the California Public Utility Commission. Aside from staff time to participate in the partnership, there is no direct fiscal impact to the City's General Fund. Submitted B � C�C�UNCILACT�ON APPROVED DENIED R C IVED OTHER .i' .__ � - Martin Alvarez MEET G D TE — Direc of Economic Development AYES: ��� NOES: ABSENTs ABSTAIN: I S. Gibson, Director of Finance VERIFIED BY: Original on File with City rk's Oftice '�pp o aL J hn M. ohlmuth, City Manager ; �� \\srv-fil2k3\groupsVda\Martin Alvarez�2013\SR\DCEP-CVAG2-14-13.doc RESOLUTION NO. 2013-�� A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF PALM DESERT DECLARING SUPPORT FOR AN ENERGY PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA EDISON, IMPERIAL IRRIGATION DISTRICT, SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA GAS COMPANY, AND THE MEMBER AGENCIES OF THE COACHELLA VALLEY ASSOCIATION OF GOVERNMENTS TO BE KNOWN AS "THE DESERT CITIES ENERGY PARTNERSHIP" WHEREAS, the Desert Cities Energy Partnership ("DCEP") representing the participating County, City and Tribal jurisdictions of the Coachella Valley Association of Governments — supports "energy efficiency" initiatives, policies, and construction standards in order to ensure that our communities follow and encourage sustainable practices; and WHEREAS, local demand for electricity has grown, and it is expected that demand for electricity will continue to grow in the near future to support a growing population and economy; and WHEREAS, citizens and businesses spend significant amounts for energy, it makes economic sense and good public policy to encourage energy efficiency in the DCEP region and our community; and WHEREAS, energy efficiency programs enhance our environment by improving air quality, reducing greenhouse gases and other pollution, and conserving natural resources; and WHEREAS, it is vital for our community to keep spending locally and to encourage innovations in the way we behave, build, and incorporate energy into our everyday business and personal lives; and WHEREAS, there is a growing movement within California communities and businesses to improve everyday practices and create more sustainable and "greener" cities; and WHEREAS, the communities comprised of the DCEP Partnership seek to promote innovative methods and state-of-the-art technologies used in the design and construction of new residential and commercial buildings within the region, in order to bring energy and natural resource consumption in line with our sustainability goals; and Over RESOLUTION NO. 2013- 09 WHEREAS, The Coachella Valley Association of Governments ("CVAG") has been identified by the participating partnership jurisdictions to enter into an agreement with Southern California Edison (SCE) on their behalf to represent them and implement the activities of the participating Coachella Valley jurisdictions of the DCEP Partnership; and WHEREAS, The Desert Cities Energy Partnership brings together CVAG, SCE, the Imperial Irrigation District ("IID"), Southern California Gas Company ("SCG") and the CVAG member agencies in a cooperative program to promote energy efficiency, regional sustainability goals, and collaboration; and WHEREAS, The City of Palm Desert staff, with the assistance of CVAG, have identified the suite of programs within SCE's proposed Local Government Partnership Program as being consistent with the DCEP member's customer service goals. NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PALM DESERT, CALIFORNIA, DOES HEREBY RESOLVE, DECLARE, DETERMINE, AND ORDER AS FOLLOWS: Section 1. That the above recitations are true and correct. Section 2. That the City of Palm Desert designates the Coachella Valley Association of Governments (or another organization designated by the DCEP should conditions merit a change) to implement the mission of the Desert Cities Energy Partnership. Section 3. That the City of Palm Desert supports a commitment to sustainable practices through energy efficiency, and will provide leadership and guidance in promoting, facilitating, and instituting such practices in the region. Section 4. That the City of Palm Desert supports and endorses the Desert Cities Energy Partnership (a SCE Local Government Partnership) as an effective method to help meet long-term regional economic and environmental goals. Section 5. That the City of Palm Desert will name one or more individuals to the DCEP working group that will review progress regularly with CVAG, SCE, IID, and SCG. Page 2 of 3 RESOLUTION NO. 2013- 09 Section 6. That the City of Palm Desert with the assistance of SCE, CVAG, and the DCEP will identify and support implementing the suite of programs and projects within the City of Palm Desert municipal facility and community energy efficiency and sustainability goals. PASSED, APPROVED, AND ADOPTED by the City Council of the City of Palm Desert, California, at its regular meeting held on the 14th day of Februarv, 2013. AYES: NOES: ABSENT: ABSTAIN: JAN C. HARNIK, MAYOR ATTEST: RACHELLE D. KLASSEN, CITY CLERK CITY OF PALM DESERT, CALIFORNIA Page 3 of 3