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Introduction

Since energy is central to all human activity, it deserves a primary focus of planning activities. Up until recently, adequate energy was a given, it was assumed to be plentiful for the foreseeable future and thus of no relevance to community planning activities. Yet logic dictates that this traditional model is incorrect and unwise. A relocalization model, conversely, makes energy the foundation to many planning activities such as transportation, food, heating, etc.

Local energy planning should be comprehensive and well-informed. Many local communities are not sufficiently educated about energy issues and education and information should be an important facet of any program. Some of the issues and technologies that should be considered include:

• Solar Power
• Geothermal Power
• Wind Energy
• Wave Power
• Traditional Fuels (only w/ carbon capture and safety assurances)
• Non-carbon Transportation and Work
• Conservation
• Energy-efficient Architectural and Building Design
• Appropriate Urban Design

The appropriate technologies are not as easily identified as might be expected and significant moral and strategic dilemmas emerge with many choices. For example, alternative energy should not result in any additional carbon being emitted to the atmosphere and should ideally result in no carbon emissions. Also, if nuclear power should ever be considered, what kind of safety assurance would be needed and what policies for waste removal and storage adopted?

As with local economy, it is not suggested or recommended that complete local energy independance is the goal or is even likely or desirable in most cases. Most local communities have a range of existing and potential energy assets that can be optimized and which can also be supplemented through cooperative ventures with neighboring communities. If not at present, they can be developed strategically with the following planning process.

A Model Municipal Energy Planning Scope

The following planning process is suggested for municipal energy transition planning. The scope can include community needs or be limited to municipal functions but it is recommended to be comprehensive and include all facets of the community including municipal, commercial, industrial, institutional, and residential.

Phase I: Develop Scope and General Goals

These goals could include any or all of the following:

1. Address climate change through reduction of greenhouse gasses
   
   
2. Coordinate energy policy with other policies such as purchasing and routing
   
   
3. Create energy committee or commission in local government to oversee policies and actions
   
   
4. Assess energy efficiency of all new construction and additions/modifications
   
   
5. Collaborate on energy issues with local and regional organizations
   
   
6. Working to acquire a more sustainable and independant source of electricity and other fuels for the community
   
   
7. Provide public education regarding clean energy in collaboration with non-profits, advocacy groups, planning commissions, and educational institutions
   
   
8. Coordinate energy planning within framework of other planning elements such as comprehensive plan
   
   
9. Lower cost to citizens by obtaining less expensive energy that is preferably renewable
   
   
10. Utilize local energy resources optimally rather than reliance on imported energy

Phase II: Energy Assessment

The assessment, whether conducted for institutional, commercial, industrial, or residential clients, is designed to collect data on the construction and major systems of the building, the type of energy used, and conservation strategies such as insulation or weather stripping. There are two basic types of assessment:

1. Level 1 - Generally conducted at no cost by local utility
   
   
2. Level 2 - Additional criteria obtained through energy consultant for a fee.

The assessment phase can vary in detail from a snapshot in time or an analysis of one or more years and will vary in cost accordingly. Certainly the more detail collected provides opportunities to developed more specific strategies seasonally.

Phase III: Issues and Opportunities Analysis - Use energy assessment findings to feed the energy consultant information to develop a set of issues/obstacles and opportunities in areas that should include:

• Municipal electrification (provides optimal local control)
• Street light acquisition
• Alternatives (acquisition or 3rd party)
• Co-generation
• Conservation

Issues and opportunities are identified either a qualified energy consulting engineer or a professional experienced in energy services and alternatives. Typically, communities and organizations will hire a consultant to collect the data and, in many cases, prepare a preliminary issues/opportunities report. The outcome of this report would then be used to develop a municipal energy transition strategic plan

Phase IV: Energy Transition Strategy

Transition Strategies involve the development of a plan document designed to spell out the specific final goals, objectives, and actions of an energy strategy, whether it be for an organization or a community (While households generally do not go so far as developing a written strategy document, it may be useful to develop a written set of actions to implement). This document should be comprehensive but also be developed as a part of a larger transition plan for the community on the way to sustainability.

As with any planning, the key to energy planning is to determine local needs, assess local resources, and develop a gap analysis that determines how best to fill the gap. For energy planning, a community may be able to supply the bulk of its electricity needs through wind power. Any gap may be filled through supplemental use of solar power and connection to the grid. Encouraging residents and businesses to install energy systems should be encouraged to the extent feasible and reasonable related to cost-benefit.

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