A number of United States (U.S.) cities are proposing and implementing bold sustainable solutions in order to combat the social, environmental, and economic impacts of climate change. Cities of all sizes around the country are taking control by pledging to reach community-wide goals of 100% renewable energy. However, many of these cities are unsure of how to meet these commitments. Although the renewable energy potential throughout the U.S. is strong, cities are facing other types of challenges that are hindering their ability to progress swiftly to meet the commitment.

1. INVESTIGATING CITY COMMITMENTS
TO 100% RENEWABLE ENERGY:
LOCALTRANSITIONSAND
ENERGY DEMOCRACY
PRESENTERS:Matthew Haugen,Kanchan Swaroop,Sydney
Troost, SamanthaVanDyke,SabrinaVivian
CLIENT: Institute for Local Self-Reliance
ADVISOR: Dr.Tony Reames
1

2. PRESENTATION OVERVIEW
Introduction
Background
Insights From
Across the
Country
Perspectives From
Select Cities
Recommendations

3. PROJECT
TEAM
INTRODUCTION

4. INTRODUCTION

5. RISING GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS POSE AN IMMEDIATE THREAT
TO HUMANS AND ECOSYSTEMS
INTRODUCTION
Renewable energy sources provide a
sustainable, zero emission solution
to U.S. reliance on fossil fuels
45%
Global carbon dioxide emissions
reduction needed by 2030 to limit
global warming to 1.5°C

6. CLIMATE CHANGE IS CATALYZING CITY-LEVEL ACTION
INTRODUCTION
80% of U.S. residents live
in urban areas
Cities produce
of the world's
carbon emissions70%
In the U.S.,
cities consume
of electricity production95%
Cities have the
ability to be dynamic
change agents in
transformative
energy policy

7. CITIES IN CONTIGUOUS U.S.THAT HAVE MADE THE
READY FOR 100 COMMITMENT AS OF MARCH 2020
BACKGROUND
READY FOR 100:
A national movement of people working to
inspire our leaders to embrace a vision of
healthier communities powered with
100% clean, renewable energy.

8. ENERGY
DEMOCRACY
The implementation of participatory forms
of energy governance and civic ownership
– where decisions are made by the users of
energy
A social movementinvolved in advancing
renewable energy transitions away from a
fossil-fuel dominantregime
BACKGROUND
Image credit: susdev.eu

9. PROJECT PURPOSE
BACKGROUND
This project is intended to make information on the mechanisms of
the 100% renewable energy transition easily accessible for cities within
transition and those that are considering making a similar commitment.
In addition, it aims to help cities bring renewable energy access and
decision making back to the local level as efficiently and equitably as possible.

10. INSIGHTS FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY

11. KEY MECHANISMS AND TOOLS BY WHICH WE AIMEDTO ASSESS
CITIES WITHIN THEIR TRANSITIONS
Commitment
Origin &
Strength
Data Access Finance
Municipality &
Utility
Structure
Policy
Resource
Assessment
Social Technology
INSIGHTS

12. TOP
COMMITMENT
DRIVERS
INSIGHTS

13. TOP BARRIERS
TO ACHIEVING
COMMITMENT
INSIGHTS

14. STAFF
DEDICATEDTO
ENERGY
TOPICS BY
CITY SIZE
INSIGHTS

15. INSIGHTS
CITIES'ACCESS
TO DATAAND
RESOURCES
77% Cities or organizations that track energy usage in
municipal buildings
Cities conducted or continue to conduct a
GHG inventory52%
Top resources cities use
to access information
• Other cities, towns,or counties that
have made similar commitments
• Recommendations from city-
facilitated task forces
• National non-profits
• Peer network of municipal
sustainability staff
• Online database(s) of city renewable
energy practices
• Metrics to evaluate renewable
energy initiatives
Helpful resources that
were not available

16. MUNICIPAL
BUILDING
INITIATIVES
INSIGHTS

17. INSIGHTS
MOSTWIDELY
ASSESSED LOCAL
ENERGY
RESOURCES
79% Distributed solar
Onshore wind27%
40% Utility scale solar

18. INSIGHTS
FUNDING
PROCUREMENT
67%
Cities or organizations procure funding to
implement programs and technological
developments used to reach commitment
through local taxes or fees
State resources were the second
most common source of funding31%
Other resources,used to
a less common extent
• Federal funding
• Fundraising / donations
• Local and / or national organization

19. INSIGHTS
• Meetings with community groups
• Connecting with elected or
appointed officials
• Public hearings,workshops,and
social media
Electric vehicles
75%
61% Green building codes
Energy efficiency programs
58%
ENGAGEMENT
IN ENERGY
POLICY
Engagement in energy
policy is sought through:
Most common energy
related mandates or policies
being passed:

20. ENERGY
PROGRAMS
INSIGHTS

21. ENERGY
DEMOCRACY
& EQUITY
INSIGHTS
Energy democracy issues are at
least moderately to extremely
important to the community
94%
83%
Do not think or do not know if their city
is adequately addressing the disproportionate
burden of the transition to 100% renewable
energy on low-income communities and
communities of color

22. CITY EFFORTS
OF REDUCING
ENERGY
BURDEN
What does your local government consider as the top energy equity issue is in their city?
“Financial burden on seniors and low-income residents”
“Not yet considering energy equity”
“Equalparticipation in decision making”
INSIGHTS

23. PERSPECTIVES FROM SELECT CITIES

24. CASE STUDY: LEVERAGING PUBLIC UTILITY
OWNERSHIP
ENERGY TRANSITION IN TRAVERSE CITY, MI
PERSPECTIVES
Image credit: TraverseCity.com

25. PERSPECTIVES
“Having a municipal utility is about as democratic as it gets when it comes to
owning your own power:There's this tiny board and you can influence who gets
appointed and elected.They listen to the community.”
-Kate Madigan,Michigan ClimateAction Network
PHOTO?
v UtilityType: Municipal utility (Traverse City
Light & Power)
v Renewable Energy Commitment:100%
renewable electricity community-wide by
2040

26.  A municipal utility provides significant
avenues for energy democracy and
making the commitment
 Building grassroots community support
can create more favorable conditions
for a city to make and sustain the
transition
 Being bold and making a commitment
even without a dedicated plan or
funding can play a significant role in
making progress
PERSPECTIVES
“We are so fortunate,I feel,to have our own little utility that
answers to our ratepayers and is part of the city.”
-TimWerner,City Commissioner andTCLP board member
PHOTO?

27. CASE STUDY:THE POWER OF LOCAL ACTIVISM
ENERGY TRANSITION IN PORTLAND, OR
PERSPECTIVES
Image credit: TripAdvisor.com

28. PERSPECTIVES
“There’s an appetite for big things right now,and this is a city
that historically has had a lot of environmental activism here.”
-Nick Caleb,Center for Sustainable Economy
v UtilityType: Investor-owned utilities (Portland
General Electric, Pacific Power,Northwest
Natural)
v Renewable Energy Commitment:100%
renewable electricity community-wide by 2035

29.  Grassroots movements are beneficial in
achieving energy goals
 Energy democracy in action has been
illustrated by the overwhelming support of
the Portland Clean Energy Fund
 Having a solid relationship with the investor-
owned utility is key to achieving the
commitment
 Addressing the transportation sector has
been a significant challenge due to rapid
developmentand increasing population
PERSPECTIVES
“A partnership with the community,I think,is probably one
of the most crucial parts of this [process].”
- JohnWasiutynski,Multnomah County Office of Sustainability

30. CASE STUDY: PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT FOR PROGRESS
ENERGY TRANSITION IN COLUMBIA, SC
PERSPECTIVES
Image credit: ColumbiaSC.net

31. PERSPECTIVES
“We speak to building a community that everyone wants to live in and
we’ve been able to find some unanimity of purpose as a result of it”
-Mayor Stephen Benjamin of Columbia,SC
v UtilityType: Investor-owned
utility (Dominion Energy) and state-
owned utility (Santee Cooper)
v Renewable Energy Commitment: 100%
renewable electricity community-wide by 2036

32.  Public support can bring about necessary
resources for a just and fruitful process
 Communication across various
stakeholders and interest groups should
be prioritized
 Leverage state lawmakers to push for
helpful policy mechanisms like a statewide
renewable portfolio standard
 Empower the implementers,like city staff,
to make decisions and broach
stakeholders
PERSPECTIVES
“It’s a tough thing to be resilient,but it’s a necessary thing to be resilient.
We have to bounce back because what choice do we have?”
-Penny Cothran,Sierra Club

33. RECOMMENDATIONS
Image credit: Itu.int

34. RECOMMENDATIONS
Designate a team or person entrusted to champion the
initialization and maintain communication within the local
government
Hire dedicated staff and foster connections with other
cities to maximize expertise in the transition
ORGANIZATIONAL
STRUCTURE

35. RECOMMENDATIONS
Build partnerships, coalitions, and relationships externally and within
the city to work together and share resources, stories, and
knowledge
Partner with neighboring cities on energy projects, whether they
have made the commitment or not
Engage with other cities that have similar commitments to build a
network of peers for sharing best practices, data, and metrics
Collaborate with community-based organizations and national non-
profits that can provide additional perspectives and resources
NETWORK
DEVELOPMENT

36. RECOMMENDATIONS
Empower citizens to have voices within the energy system
through education, engagement in energy policy and regulation
issues, and support of community-based organizations
Ensure disproportionate energy burden is being adequately
addressed by engaging marginalized communities and investing in
efficiency and clean energy programs directed towards these
communities
COMMUNITY
ENGAGEMENT

37. RECOMMENDATIONS
Assess the use and allocation of local taxes and fees from the city
and supplement with state, federal, and other fundraising
opportunities
Advocate for renewable energy policies and funding mechanisms at
the state and federal level
Develop an interim goal to help motivate staffers towards the
transition to 100%
POLICYACTION

38. RECOMMENDATIONS
FOR INCREASING ENGAGEMENT AND EQUITY
Understand that energy
democracy and equity
issues go hand in hand
Engage frontline communities
throughoutall decision-
making bodies and processes
Invest in and prioritize
marginalized
communities

39. RECOMMENDATIONS
FOR COMMUNITY GROUPS AND ORGANIZERS
Focus efforts on some
areas where cities need
help most:funding,
technological expertise,
legal expertise,access to
data,public support
Communicatewith city
staff working in plan
implementation will help
build bridge gap
between public and city
Help build public
support to get clean
energy-friendly electeds
in office while holding
them accountable on
their campaign promises

40. RECOMMENDATIONS
FOR CITIES WITH INVESTOR-OWNED UTILITIES
Incentivize the initial
commitmentby utilities
with renewable portfolio
standards,community
choice energy,and
public pressure
Work together with
other committed cities
in the area to put
pressure on the utility
to be an engaged
partner in the transition
Explore the potential
for municipalization
which may allow for
greater energy
democracy or help to
push an IOU to act

41. RECOMMENDATIONS
FOR CITIES CONTEMPLATING A COMMITMENT
Increase engagement
within the city in order
to mobilize the public to
advocate for change
Track energy usage in
municipal buildings and
build a greenhouse gas
inventory as a way of
making future planning
easier
Communicatewith your
state’s energy office
or environmental groups
to see what resources
are available for easing
the planning process
Formalize the commitment even if there is not a fully-developed plan in place

42. RECOMMENDATIONS
“Just do it!”
- Mayor Jim Caruthers of Traverse City, MI

43. THANK YOU FOR LISTENING
ANY QUESTIONS?
FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATIONAND RESOURCES,PLEASE
VISIT HTTPS://URBANENERGYJUSTICELAB.COM/LOCALENERGY