Hello,
I am conducting a literature review on community energy planning (CEP) and would appreciate any assistance in locating case studies, research articles, and municipal-level policies on this topic. CEP involves community-level efforts to develop an overall strategy to guide energy use. CEP would be implemented because of concerns related to energy security, energy affordability, economic vitality, air quality, and climate change. Such efforts usually include policies and actions related to energy efficiency, renewable energy, demand management, mass transit, and urban planning and are conducted in collaboration with municipalities, utility companies, developers, educational institutions, NGOs, and others. I am particularly interested in: the processes followed by communities in developing a comprehensive CEP the various rationales used to justify such planning the stakeholders involved and their roles in the process the indicators used and outcomes sought Just to clarify - I'm not interested in details about one-off projects, rather how projects are incorporated into an overall long-term strategy for a community's energy use.
Any help provided is greatly appreciated.
Tom Bird,
M.A.E.S. Public Health Planner
Region of Waterloo
Public Health
Environmental Health and Lifestyle Resources
99 Regina St. S. 3rd floor
Waterloo, ON N2J 4V3
519-883-2008 x5181
Seeking Articles Related to Community Energy Planning
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Tom,
The Region of Peel has just complete it's comprehensive energy management and conservation plan for the municipality. As a first note, these plans are particularly difficult, as they require much expertise in a variety of energy and environmental related fields. Moreover, in Ontario, because the province has now made it mandatory to have energy conservation plans vis--vis the Conservation Responsibility Act, 2006 (Bill 21), many municipalities are challenged with the task of figuring out just how to put together a complete and successful plan. While I'm afraid answering your question may be beyond the scope of one email, I will provide the following information. At Peel Region, we learned first hand how difficult it can be to prepare an energy plan. It's not only about building a comprehensive plan, but also cutting across departmental silos to get the strategy working. These are some of the reasons why we worked so hard to develop the Energy Matters conference (www.energymatterssummit.ca ), we felt it was the best way to get all municipalities together to share what they've done on comprehensive energy planning efforts. For three years different municipal governments have been sharing their ideas, a number have even started entire energy programs because of the event. This year, we're answering five key questions at the conference:
1) What are the core elements that should be a part of a municipal energy plan? Focusing on aspects of metering your energy use (you can't save what you don't measure), renewable energy, building green, communication/awareness, energy budgeting, etc... and how do they work together?
2) How do you build a business case for such an energy plan? Even the best plans can fail if they don't have a balanced financial case behind them. And because doing what's right for the environment is perceived as "too costly" - we want to dispel that myth.
3) How do you fund energy/environmental projects? It's not just about grants. If energy programs are at the whim of external funding, what happens when the tap runs dry. Sustainable funding models are key.
4) Climate Change and Energy Challenges. You're point energy security is perfect. Peak oil and the reduction of other fossil fuel supplies are certainly evident, municipal preparation for this is key. SustainLane in the US put out an incredible report on the 50 most sustainable cities in the US as well as the 50 cities most prepared for an oil crisis. Visit them online: http://www.sustainlane.us/overview.jsp, they'll also be at the conference.
5) Clean Transportation, because getting more efficient in our movement takes along time so planning efforts really need to start now. There are some really remarkable efforts from across the country that we've pulled together to share how they've improved urban transit. Calgary's ride the wind (LRT powered by renewable wind energy) is a great example.
Please feel to contact me, I would be glad to discuss this topic further.
steve saric
corporate energy
region of peel
10 peel centre drive
brampton, on
L6T 4B9
tel: 905.791.7800, x.4962
fax: 905.791.0564
peelenergy.ca
Morning Tom - Australian time,
The link here lets you see what one group is doing here and other parts of the world so it may be a good case study or set of principles, depending on how you view it: http://www.voxbandicoot.com.au/zFile%20storage/index.htm Though this web site index page has not been updated, I know they are moving forward with numerous community projects from 2006 with others due in 07 so they may have more for you to look into.
Kind regards,
Paul Payten
GEENI - Global Ecology & Educational Networking Interface
Associate of EcoSTEPS Pty Ltd
Sustainability Partner
www.ecosteps.com.au
Ph: +61 (0)2 4787 5850
Fax: +61 (0)2 4787 6819
Mobile: +61 (0)414 705 958
Web: www.geeni.net
PO Box 256 Blackheath NSW 2785
www.whatissustainability.com