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Hello CELC members,
It’s that time when we all meet and discuss our goals and intentions for the new year. This is also the time of year to discuss opportunities, grants, and collaborations. I invite you CELC members to reach out and share your stories, goals, and partnerships. We also have an open call for presenters for this year. As you scroll down check out our new section in the newsletter focusing on Local Government Policy with contributions from our Policy Manager, Noah Oaks.
All the best,
Shaun Auckland
sauckland@eepartnership.org
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In This Newsletter:
Cities Efficiency Leadership Council Updates
Local Government Policy
SPEER News and Up-coming Events
Member & Partner News
Podcasts and What are we Reading
Toolkit Spotlight
Job Opportunities
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Cities Efficiency Leadership Council Updates
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Local Government Energy Report Deadline
This coming February 1st, the Texas Health and Safety Code §388.005(c) requires each political subdivision, the institution of higher education, and state agency in a non-attainment area or an affected county to establish a goal reduce electricity consumption by at least five percent each year. Additionally, each political subdivision must submit a report annually to the State Energy Conservation Office (SECO)regarding the entity's progress and efforts to meet the five percent annual reduction goal.
The South-central Partnership for Energy Efficiency as a Resource (SPEER) provides outreach and technical support to political subdivisions required to submit Local Government Energy Reports under HSC §388.005(c) on behalf of the State Energy Conservation Office (SECO). Our assistance is free of charge, and I do not sell any products or services. Please feel free to reach out to me directly if you have questions or need assistance preparing and submitting your Local Government Energy Report for this year. You can reach me by email at sauckland@eepartnership.org or phone at 512-279-0765.
Texas Recreation Association and Parks Society Conference
Join Sustainability experts Shaun Auckland and Sara Nichols as they share information on how to increase sustainability in our parks through intentional efforts, big and small. The presenters will share key takeaways from the first TRAPS Sustainability Series event in August 2021 including highlights of projects, facilities, and programs in Texas that are both supporting the natural environment and improving park facilities and operations. Focus areas will include rainwater harvesting, energy conservation, waste management, and resiliency. This will be a fast-paced session packed with practical information that you will not want to miss.
Thursday, Feb 17th, 3:15 – 4:15 pm
In-person- Texas A & M
USGBC Texas and CELC Webinar
Webinar: Choosing (and installing) Healthier Building Materials
Learn about how to engage all stakeholders, set health criteria, and create frameworks that can be implemented so that the process of specification and design innovation produces the best and healthiest built work. CELC members can attend for free with the code 20SPEER22.
Tuesday, February 01, 2022
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
Register here
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If you are aware of upcoming policy discussions or actions in your area and would like to share on this newsletter, please send information to noaks@eepartnership.org.
Recent and Upcoming Local Government Policy Actions:
AUSTIN: CenterPoint Energy proposed a Pilot Energy Efficiency Program and subsequent rate increases for the City of Austin in December 2021. The City of Austin’s City Council will hold a public hearing on the proposal on January 27, 2022 (Item 63 on 1/27/2022 Council Agenda). See link for additional information.
SAN ANTONIO: CPS Energy had two items for the City of San Antonio’s Municipal Utilities Committee meeting on January 25, 2022. Item 4 on the agenda provided an update on Committee on Emergency Preparedness’ Report, plans for addressing past due customer receivables, and Rate Advisory Committee update. Item 5 discussed the scoping for a proposed 3rd party study of CPS Energy’s operations, management, and finances following January 13, 2022 City Council meeting. See link for additional information.
https://sanantonio.primegov.com/Portal/Meeting?compiledMeetingDocumentFileId=9454
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SPEER News and Up-coming Events
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The challenges that SPEER continued to face in 2021 were different from challenges in years past. That said, 2021 was an incredible year of growth and opportunity for our organization.
We have experience in developing sustainability initiatives with many cities and jurisdictions. Our Local Government Program provides technical assistance in the following areas: planning, benchmarking, energy, reporting, and energy plan development.
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Call to Members
Members and partners - Do you have some good news to share? Let us help you BRAG! Please send in your content or ideas for our next newsletter! Newsletters are generally published on the 2nd Thursday of the month. Copy is due to me the Thursday, prior. Please send your copy to cities@eepartnership.org
NCTCOG- Dallas Fort Worth Clean Cities Coalition (DFWCC) 2021 Annual Fleet Survey - Due February 18, 2022
The Dallas Fort Worth Clean Cities Coalition (DFWCC) Annual Fleet Survey is here! By filling out the annual survey, fleets are eligible to receive recognition and assist DFWCC in reaching a regional transportation energy reduction goal of reducing greater than 24 million gasoline gallon equivalents (beating last year’s reduction goal)! This survey is applicable to North Texas fleets operating in the following counties: Collin, Dallas, Denton, Ellis, Erath, Hood, Hunt, Johnson, Kaufman, Navarro, Palo Pinto, Parker, Rockwall, Somervell, Tarrant and Wise.
Find instructions and begin your survey here.
Don't forget to complete all tabs on the survey. If you would like your survey from last year sent to you for reference, let DFWCC know. Completed surveys are due February 18, 2022.
Please email cleancities@nctcog.org with any questions.
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Podcasts and What are we Reading?
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Water Utility Climate Alliance (WUCA), Greenhouse Gas Mitigation Studies
WUCA has just published their greenhouse has mitigation case studies. Their case studies transcend a specific industry's implementation of best practices for climate adaptation and mitigation.
Podcast- The History & Future of Energy as an Economic Driving Force
Listen in as Carey unearths some of the essential lessons that can be learned as energy unlocked new economic development in the 1700s and what that means for relevant energy strategy and public policy in the decades in front of us.
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EPA’s policy guidance includes analysis and recommendations of metrics, best practice resources including the Benchmarking and Building Performance Standards Policy Toolkit(view webinar overview), and peer networks. EPA is also providing a framework for selecting metrics and setting performance levels for building performance standards. For example, the EPA has published a white paper to inform the development of building performance standards.
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Manager Energy Conservation- Austin Community College
The Energy Conservation Manager will be responsible for analyzing current energy usage and developing the district's energy management plan to provide a quality learning environment with cost-effective energy utilization.
Project Development Manager, Grid-scale Renewables- ENGIE
Reporting to the VP of Development, you will support a broad range of pre-construction development activities on projects within ENGIE’s portfolio of utility-scale solar assets across the United States.
Conservation Program Specialist- Austin Energy
This position assists in the coordination of incentive and rebate programs, including database updates; responds to customer and contractor inquiries; application verification; customer service; and general support of AE residential, multifamily and commercial energy efficiency programs.
Building Energy Manager- Travis County
This position will utilize various tools and software to monitor and determine energy reduction projects for FMD. Also, this position provides technical analysis and review for performance monitoring of energy efficiency projects.
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What is the City Efficiency Leadership Council?
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The council is a cooperative of city leaders and officials throughout Texas and Oklahoma, furthering the adoption of energy management best practices in the public sector. Our peer-to-peer network is open to employees of any public entity, including city and county governments, public school districts, and other publicly funded entities. For more information, check out our website.
Questions or interested in getting involved with the City Efficiency Leadership Council? Get in touch!
512-279-0765 or cities@eepartnership.org |
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