Overview

•  Target of plan is to reduce carbon emissions to 7% below 1990 levels by 2012

• Three of four key strategies relate to energy production and energy efficiency
• Improve energy and water efficiency
• Improve efficiency or power production
• Increase use of renewable and domestic fuels to generate energy
• Improve transportation and land use initiatives

• About 60% of Gainesville’s power is produced from coal generation
• Lexington more than 90%
• GRU also has some (4%) nuclear in generation mix

• Key distinction between Gainesville and Lexington (and most other peer cities) is that GRU (Gainesville Regional Utilities) is a city-owned entity

• GRU has contracted to buy wind, solar and biomass-generated electricity
• Has been negotiating to jointly construct a 100 mW biomass plant

• Gainesville plan clearly identifies energy efficiency as critical first step (low-hanging fruit/least cost strategy)
• Providing incentives to customers to change behavior
• Goal is to reduce GRU electricity sales by 10% by 2015

• Current state and federal incentive programs in place to do much of what GRU’s incentives target (solar, high efficiency equipment, etc.)

Specific Strategies

• Improve Energy and Water Efficiency
• Energy efficiency incentive programs
• Energy Star programs (insulation, appliances)
• Low-interest energy efficiency loans

• Improve efficiency of power production
• Investment in existing generation facilities
• Combined H&P (heat and power)

• Increase use of renewable and domestic fuels to generate energy
• Customer rebates for solar water heating and space heating
• Plans to partner in construction of 100 mW Biomass plant
• Landfill gas

• Improve transportation and land use initiatives
• Stop-light synchronization (controllers, upgraded IT)
• Upgrade of stop and street lights
• City ownership of Development Rights (carbon offsets through timber, etc.)

Scott Southall comments:

• Plan seems to be for entire community but did not include the university   

• Could not determine the time for producing the report. Seems to be the first plan 2007

• Very aggressive schedule following the Kyoto Protocol treaty to reduce co2 levels 7 percent below 1990 level by 2013

• University did not seem to participate in a leading role. The utility company was a much bigger partner

• Gainesville stated there co2 footprint was 64% less than the   US ave.

• Gainesville offered both residential and commerical grants for energy efficient upgrades

• Land preservation and carbon sequestration via tree plant are key elements of the plan.