01112011 ALTERNATIVE ENERGY PRESENTATIONJoint Energy Committee Briefing
January 6, 2011
Clay Bernick
City of Virginia Beach
Environment & Sustainability Office
Mayoral Charge
The purpose of the AETF was explained in Mayor Sessoms’ April 28, 2009
letter to the City Council –
to “analyze the current reality of energy demand in Virginia Beach and
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explore potential sources of supply to satisfy that demand”;
to “consider how those possible supply sources might impact our
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community both economically and environmentally”;
to “look forward in time to identify areas where supply may not keep
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pace with demand”;
to “develop potential options to close that gap as well as to reduce our
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dependence on foreign sources” thorough identifying future sources
which “must be environmentally sustainable and independent of
foreign sources”; and
to “ideally and proactively position Virginia Beach to be an active leader
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in the essential movement toward a more sustainable and intelligent
energy future for our nation, commonwealth and community”
Task Force Process
Briefings –June through October 2009
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Public Hearing –October 26, 2009
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Subcommittee Convened to Draft Report –December 2009
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Draft Report under Development –January 2010 –April
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2010
Task Force Review of Draft Report –April 2010 –August
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2010
City Council Briefing on Final Report –September 7, 2010
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City Council Action –Fall 2010
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Task Force Goals
1-Increase energy independence, with an emphasis on
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conservation and clean fuel technologies.
2 -Reduce current municipal government energy consumption
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by fifteen percent by 2025.
3-Expand residential/business energy education to overcome
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barriers to implementing energy-efficiency and conservation
actions.
4-Reduce greenhouse gas emissions by thirty percent by 2025.
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5-Capitalize on economic development opportunities through
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business expansion and increased research and development in
areas of strength, including alternative energy development.
6–Increase indigenous energy production in the City by twenty
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percent by 2025.
What is Alternative Energy?
For purposes of report, energy that is:
derived from non-fossil fuel origins and that is renewable and/or
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sustainable (such as wind, solar, geothermal, biological or
hydrologic resources), or
Replaces gasoline and diesel fuel in vehicles with natural gas,
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biofuels, electricity or hydrogen fuel cells
The US Department of Energy defines renewable energy as:
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“electric energy generated from solar, wind, biomass, landfill gas,
ocean (including tidal, wave, current, and thermal), geothermal,
municipal solid waste, or new hydroelectric
generation capacity achieved from increased
efficiency or additions of new capacity at an
existing hydroelectric project.”
Recommended Overall City Policy
“Three-Legged Stool Approach” to be Pursued
Simultaneously:
1-Transitional Development & Prudent Use of Traditional
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Energy Sources
2-Aggressive Support for Energy Conservation and
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Retrofits to Optimize Efficiency
3-Sustainable Development & Use of
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Renewable Energy Sources
Leg One -Transitional
Nuclear
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Support Dominion pursuing North Anna expansion
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Maintain moratorium on uranium mining in Roanoke
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River watershed
City needs to address possible implications should
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development of plants or mining take place
Water quality
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Leg One -Transitional
Coal
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Support research and development of clean coal
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technologies
Do not support development of proposed Dendron Coal
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Plant in Surry County
City needs to address possible implications should
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development of Dendron plant takes place
Economic development
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Transportation funding
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Air quality
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Water quality
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Leg One -Transitional
Offshore Oil & Natural Gas
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Recommend oil and natural gas exploration only on strict non-
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interference with DOD and NASA operations and after federal
regulatory policies, drilling and production technology, and oil spill
response capability upgrades
Recommend exploration only after full federal and state review
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documents no possibility of major or recurring minor spills having a
negative environmental or visual impact on tourism, outdoor
recreation, and commercial and sports fisheries
City needs to address possible implications should development of
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offshore fields take place
Land use
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Water quality
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Economic development –military, tourism,
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regional economy
Air quality
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Leg Two -Conservation
Supports both a City organization and community focused
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strategy, including regional initiatives and partnerships
between local governments, military, businesses, residents,
energy suppliers and private industry
Requires the development of effective communication
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strategies to accomplish optimum energy efficiency
Retrofit programs and development of incentives,
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recognition programs, collection of data to establish
metrics to gauge success, reallocation of City resources to
aggressively drive programs
Modify transportation and land use policies
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as needed
Undertaking carbon footprint analyses
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Leg Two -Conservation
City Organization
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Buildings
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Vehicles
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DOE EECBG and LEP Grant Awards
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Methods
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Lighting
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Windows
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Education & Awareness
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Hybrids
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HVAC
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Land Use and Transportation Studies
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Data Collection
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Reallocate City Staff Resources to Aggressively
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Drive City Programs
Leg Two -Conservation
Community-Wide
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Residents
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Businesses
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Military
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Methods
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Education & Awareness
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Incentives & Recognition
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Land Use and Transportation Studies
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Recycling Studies
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Data Collection
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Reallocate City Staff Resources to Aggressively Drive City Programs
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Leg Two -Conservation
Regional
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Cities
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Military
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Business Community
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Methods
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Transportation Policies
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Land Use Policies
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Carbon Footprint Analysis
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Education & Awareness
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Leg Three -Sustainable
Support strategy to fully research, promote and
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develop renewable energy resources in the City
Solar
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Wind -Onshore & Offshore
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Biomass & Municipal Solid Waste
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Landfill Gas
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Ocean & Bay –Tidal, Wave, Current & Thermal
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Geothermal
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Leg Three -Sustainable
Solar
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Economic development opportunities being pursued in
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City and region
Workforce training and development opportunities
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City needs to aggressively pursue and support these
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efforts through
Land use policies
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Economic development incentives and regional partnerships
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City procurement and new projects requirements
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K-12 and college education and training support and program
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development
Leg Three -Sustainable
Wind
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City onshore wind ordinance in place; projects under development
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City strong support for offshore wind development in place
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(VCERC, VOW, MMS, etc.)
Workforce training and development opportunities
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Economic development opportunities being pursued in City and
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region
City needs to continue its aggressive pursuit and support of
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these efforts through
Land use planning for onshore support components
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Pursuing resolution of issues with military
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K-12 and college education and training support and program
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development
Leg Three -Sustainable
Biomass & Municipal Solid Waste
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City studying biomass / composting facility to extend landfill life
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and generate energy
ODU pursuing relocation of Hopewell algae biodiesel research
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facility to City
City needs to continue its aggressive pursuit and support of
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these efforts through
Land use planning for location requirements
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Education and training support and program development
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Leg Three -Sustainable
Landfill Gas
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City currently vents and burns methane from City
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landfill
Private landfill methane disposition unknown
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City is pursuing research and opportunities to better utilize
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this resource for municipal and private sources
Leg Three -Sustainable
Ocean & Bay –Tidal, Wave, Current & Thermal
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VCERC pursuing research opportunities to develop and
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utilize offshore resources
City should explore opportunities for development and
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utilization of nearshore resources
Leg Three -Sustainable
Geothermal
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City schools showing significant benefits through demonstration
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project at Providence Elementary (80% overall energy usage
reductions)
Geology of City affords significant opportunities to reduce City,
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commercial and residential heating and cooling costs
City needs to aggressively pursue and support these efforts
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through
Land use policies
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Economic development incentives and regional partnerships
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City procurement and new projects requirements
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Procedural Recommendations
Develop a City Council appointed Energy Advisory
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Committee comprised of Community representatives
reporting to City Council to:
Work with Staff and Industry partners through the Joint Energy
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Committee and others to implement and track City progress on
meeting the recommendations of the Task Force report
Advise City Council on annual basis regarding progress towards
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achieving Task Force report goals and actions
Track federal, state and local energy policy that may impact the City
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Periodically recommend updates to the Task Force report
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Conduct Energy SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and
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Threats) Analysis for the City
Recommend to City Council an overall energy organization
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administration structure for the City
Procedural Recommendations
Reconsider the City’s current resolution in support of the
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development of offshore drilling to recommend
exploration only be considered to:
assure non-interference with DOD and NASA operations and
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commercial shipping
upgrade Federal regulatory policies, drilling and production
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technology, and oil spill response capabilities
pursue assurances that there is no possibility either a major spill or
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recurring small spills having a negative impact on our critically
important tourism, outdoor recreation, and commercial and sport
fishing industries will occur
Procedural Recommendations
Provide regional leadership and work with region's
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localities and HRPDC to develop a position of
opposition to the proposed Dendron Coal Plant in
Surry County
Reaffirm the City’s resolution opposing uranium
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mining and encourage other Hampton Roads
communities to adopt similar resolutions to retain the
moratorium until current State and City studies have
been completed and it is determined mining can be
safely pursued in the Commonwealth
Procedural Recommendations
Work to accomplish Task Force goals and actions by
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promoting and expanding partnerships, including:
Local energy providers –Dominion Virginia Power, Virginia Natural
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Gas
Regional partnerships –other communities, HRPDC, Green Jobs
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Alliance, Virginia Offshore Wind
Purchasing partnerships –Virginia Energy Purchasing
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Governmental Association
State programs –Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy,
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Center for Innovative Technology
U.S. Green Building Council, Energy Star Program, ICLEI (ICLEI –
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Local Governments for Sustainability)
Next Steps
Formal adoption of Task Force Report as foundation
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for City’s Energy Policy
Appoint
Energy Advisory Committee
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Amend offshore drilling policy
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Reaffirm uranium mining moratorium resolution
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Work at regional level to encourage adoption of Dendron
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Coal Plant opposition resolution
Questions?