This document outlines Northfield, Minnesota's efforts to engage citizens and create a local clean energy action plan. It describes how a resolution was passed to commit to reducing emissions. An energy task force was created with four tasks: assess local clean energy opportunities; assess creating a municipal utility; recommend emissions reductions targets; and develop a climate action plan. The task force held public meetings, created recommendations, and developed a 70-page report. The recommendations included pursuing clean energy projects, creating green jobs, establishing an energy commission, and adopting a goal of being "carbon free by '33".

1. Local Energy Action Now:
Engaging Local Citizens to Mitigate Climate Change
Creating a Local Clean Energy Action Plan

2. Make the Case:
Global climate
change and the
chaos that
results locally
Taking charge
at the local
level to secure
our energy
future

3. Northfield – Leadership from the community
City Government,
•
Historical Society,
•
Two Colleges,
•
EQC (Advisory to Council)‫‏‬
•
Cannon River Watershed Partnership
•

4. RENew Northfield (non‐profit) brought resolution
to the City Council in December, 2005, committing
Northfield to the Cities for Climate Protection
Campaign.
Council passed the resolution.
•

5. Ad hoc Energy Issues Group ‐‐ 2006‐2007
Mayor, City Council, city staff, members of EDA,
Industry, Colleges, Townships, RENew, citizens
met to discuss energy future.
Agreed an energy task force was needed.

6. May, 2007, Council created Energy Task Force
Seven members
•
One year existence
•
Four Tasks
•
Return with recommendations
•

7. Task One
To assess opportunities to develop local energy
•
efficiency and clean energy projects that will
a.)Protect the community from future energy price
and supply instability
b.)Enhance local economic development
c.)Provide local, regional and global environmental
benefits

8. Task Two
To assess the efficacy of creation of a municipal
•
electric utility or special energy district in achieving
the above

9. Task Three
To recommend citywide target greenhouse gas
•
emissions reductions to fulfill Milestone 2 of the
City’s commitment to the Cities for Climate
Protection Campaign (CCPC)‫‏‬

10. Five CCPC Milestones
1. Baseline inventory of emissions.
2. Adopt emissions reduction target and target
year.
3. Develop Local Action Plan
4. Implement Plan
5. Monitor, verify

11. Task Four
To develop an action plan to meet the CCPC
•
targets identified in step 3 above

12. Public involvement
Energy Resource Group meetings
•
 Members from colleges, industry,
commercial, and non‐profits
Public meetings
•
Articles in Northfield News
•

13. Public Meetings
Met with Public Officials
• City
• Townships
• School District
• Colleges

14. Public Meetings
Two meetings with general public
Over 75 ideas for energy conservation,
•
generation, or education from public
Eleven work groups formed ‐‐ six continued
•
through the year

15. The Energy Task Force met its goal:
Returned with a 70‐page report
•
Completed the four tasks
•
Held two community meetings
•
Started several energy‐interest community
•
groups

17. Recommendations to City Council
Task 1 ‐‐ Opportunities
Lead Clean Energy projects – model energy
•
conservation and efficiency
Direct city staff to consider all impacts of decisions
•
using life cycle analysis and monetary impact
analysis.

18. Recommendations to City Council
Develop policies and initiatives to create demand
•
for green collar jobs in the private sector
Create Energy Commission
•
Set up One‐Stop‐Shop in City Hall
•
Sponsor MN Energy Challenge
•

19. Recommendations to City Council
Change city policies and ordinances to reflect
•
energy importance
City administrator job description should emphasize
–
sustainability
Discount energy audits
–
Allow homeowners to place special assessments on tax
–
for energy projects
Green construction for all new projects
–
New industrial park to incorporate clean energy
–

20. Recommendations to City Council
Partner with private sector for wind farm or
•
biomass plant
Carbon surcharge for Energy use
•
Energy Action Fund to finance energy projects and
•
Energy Coordinator position
Smart metering negotiations with Xcel
•

21. Recommendations to City Council
Task 2 – Assess setting up municipal energy utility
•
or special energy district
Recommended not pursuing the municipal utility –
–
costs would be very high
Recommended establishing a special energy district
–
for combined heat and power servicing industrial and
commercial users

22. Recommendations to City Council
Task 3 – Recommend citywide target greenhouse gas
emission reductions
State wide: 80% by 2050, 30% by 2025, 15% by 2015
–
Recommendation: “Carbon free by '33”
•
15% by 2013, 50% by 2028, 100% by 2033
–
Annual measurements to begin this year
•

23. Recommendations to City Council
Task 4 – Develop a climate action plan
•
Adopt the targets set in Charge 3
–
Adopt the recommendations
–

24. Next Steps
• Ordinance being prepared
• Council will appoint Energy Board
• Begin work on Recommendations

25. How did we do it?
How can your city do this?

26. We had help!
1. History of Community Involvement
Some key citizen non‐profit initiatives:
HATPIN: 1960’s Households Against Toxic Pollution in Northfield
League of Women Voters: 1979 & more Energy Conservation Education
grant
Clean Air Northfield (CAN): 1970's ‐ '80s air quality issues of Sheldahl, Inc.
Cannon River Watershed Partnership: 1980’s non‐profit to protect Cannon
River
RENew Northfield: Non‐profit, organized 2001, addresses renewable
energy

27. More Help
2. Two Colleges
Carleton College
St. Olaf College

28. Even More Help
3. City Advisory Groups – A Few
 Environmental Quality Commission
 Energy Task Force
 Non‐Motorized Task Force
 Planning Commission

29. And Still More Help
4. Harvard Negotiators: 3rd Year Harvard Law Students
Survey of Northfield Energy Attitudes and
Behaviors
Assistance in Technical Development
Training in Negotiations

30. Culture Required to Create Positive Community Norms
of Energy Conservation & Clean Energy
Innovators

Early Adopters

Majority Adopters

Late Adopters

Resistors

The Dead


31. Your City
Assess the Culture
•
Find Leadership
•
Collect like‐minded citizens (Letter to the Editor)‫‏‬
•
Organize around a clear issue
•
Copy from successful examples (We did!)‫‏‬
•
Work – be persistent, patient, & proactive!
•

32. Call To Action
Assess Your Expertise
What Does Your Community Support?
Maximize the Strengths of Your Community
Set Up a Task Force
Begin

33. Energy Task Force Report
ci.northfield.mn.us
• Use “Search this site” – enter ‘energy task
force’
• Report is a .pdf located mid‐page
• geokinney@gmail.com