Title
Resolution Adopting Energy Criterion and Principles to Guide Energy-Related Investments in A2ZERO
Memorandum
With the June 2020 adoption of A2ZERO, the City is actively pursuing solutions to achieve a just transition to community-wide carbon neutrality by the year 2030. Within the A2ZERO Plan are seven overarching strategies, which are supported by 44 actions. Given the importance of energy-related emissions within the community, many of the actions focus on reducing energy usage, electrification, and investing in renewable energy.
As the City looks to operationalize A2ZERO, especially actions related to generating and/or purchasing renewable-based electricity and energy efficiency, a series of core criteria and supporting principles are being proposed to guide this work. These criteria and principles are rooted in the A2ZERO plan and stem from the overall ethos of the Office of Sustainability and Innovations.
The proposed core criteria include:
* Reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
* Additional to what is already being generated.
* Grounded in equity and justice.
The proposed principles include:
* Enhancing the resilience of our people, our community, and our natural systems.
* Start Local.
* Speed.
* Scalable and transferable to other locations.
* Cost effective.
Criteria
The City of Ann Arbor will evaluate potential investments based upon 3 Core Criteria: the investment will 1) reduce greenhouse gas emission; 2) add to the available renewable energy within the electric system; and 3) will be grounded in equity and justice. The Criteria will be, at times, in tension with each other during decision making, but this tension can be necessary in order to create a balanced investment approach.
Reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The first criterion seeks solutions that reduce energy demand and/or power Ann Arbor's electricity needs with carbon neutral renewable energy solutions. This includes investments in energy efficiency, HVAC improvements...
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