Module 3Community Energy Plan Implementation

Overview

3.1 Lessons Learned: challenges and success factors for CEP implementation3.2 Partnerships: Working with key stakeholders and how to engage them3.3 Using tools to influence change in the way communities use energy

Why develop a community energy plan?

4

Lessons Learned from CEP Implementation

The most common factors acting as barriers to CEP implementation

Staff capacity

Financial capacity

Local government limits of authority

Political support and leadership

Estimated GHG impacts of actions

Co benefits of actions

Stakeholder support and leadership

Public support

Staff support and leadership

Priorities from other planning documents

Source: National Report on Community Energy Plan Implementation

Success Factors for ImplementationBuilding Capacity for Implementation

Working within the local government’s limits of authority

- Focus on partnershipsEarly, sustained engagement is key – engage broadly!

- Identify points of commonality between the CEP objectives and community stakeholders

- Focus on actions being supported by utilities, provincial government and others stakeholders

Examples- City of Guelph – Taskforce and Working Groups- City of Markham – PowerStream and conservation

Partnerships

Health departmentSchool boards

Real estate agentsOther local governments

Higher education institutionsPrivate sector

Non-governmental organizationsFederal governmentFinance department

Engineering departmentGas utility

Real estate developersProvincial government

Electric utilityPlanning department

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Source: National Report on Community Energy Plan Implementation

Community Energy Planning Process

Baseline Study and Energy Maps

Introduce an energy lens to

municipal planning

Integrate with the broader energy planning context

CEP Development

EN

GA

GE

ME

NT

8

External & Internal Partners

Desired Outcomes

Gas utilities Industry Electrical

utilities

Transportation Non-profits

Consumers

Economic Development

Planning, Environment, Infrastructure

Developers & builders

City Council

Public Institutions

Who and What to Consider when Developing a CEP

Engagement: utilities are critical partners

• Data sharing: “5 and 25” rule and variations -> originated at Enbridge and looking at improvements.

• Conservation: Mandated targets (CDM for electricity and DSM for natural gas) present an opportunity for alignment and expansion of CEP priorities and look for additional opportunities for residential, commercial and industrial conservation programs.

• Distributed Generation: Renewable energy, storage, emergency generation, standby & backup generation, CHP (cogeneration), microgrid

Building Political and Staff Support - Identify key messages for different

audiences- Tracking and monitoring progress using

key performance indicators- Use data to tell a story

Examples-City of London: Economic Benefits-City of Edmonton: Risk Management

Success Factors for Implementation

Alignment with economic objectives

- Retaining dollars spent on energy locally- Business retention and attraction- Market differentiation- Neighbourhood revitalization- Affordability- Employee attraction, retention and productivity

Alignment with risk and resilience objectives

- Mitigating impacts from extreme weather- Improving security of energy supply- Managing high and increasing energy prices- Meeting air quality standards

Alignment with environmental objectives

- Improving air quality and reducing GHG emissions

Improving the Clarity of the CEP

- Make the plan “SMART” (specific, measurable, attainable, relevant and time-bound)

- Tie timelines and accountability to actions- Integrate energy into existing plans and processes- Use decision making tools (e.g. energy maps)

Examples- City of Guelph - Development Approvals Process- City of Toronto – Green Development Standards- City of Toronto – Official Plan Review

Success Factors for Implementation

Energy + Emission

Profile

Community Form +

Geography

Provincial Policy

Context

LocalPolicy

Context

Local Socio

Economics

StrategicAction Plans

What to Consider When Developing a CEP…involves a strategic situational analysis

Municipal tools: municipal scale

- Official Plan and OP Amendments: Energy can be integrated into every component of an OP

- Zoning By-laws: Includes requirements related to the use of a site, as well as the area, density and height of development

- Building Code Requirements / Green Development Standards: Communities can introduce building standards/guidelines for developers

- Energy Mapping: municipalities can use energy maps to identify baseline energy consumption

Municipal tools: Energy mapping

Municipal tools: site scale

- FIT/CHPSOP applications for Standard Offer Contracts

- Development approvals/applications requiring reference to CEP objectives

- Development Charges to influence development patterns, transportation requirements and energy needs

- Local Improvement Charges to incent energy retrofits at the household level

> City of London, Ontario

Challenges Success FactorsLack of staff and financial capacity

Limits of local government authority

- Focus on partnerships- Focus on actions with provincial or utility support

Lack of political and staff support/leadership

- Identify the economic benefits of the actions in the plan

- Track, monitor and report progress using key performance indicators

- Use data to tell a story

The next steps are not clear - Make the plan “SMART” (specific, measurable, attainable, relevant and time-bound)

- Tie timelines and accountability to actions- Integrate energy into existing plans- Decision making tools – energy mapping