Renewable Energy Task Force
About the Task Force
The Renewable Energy Task Force is an ad hoc advisory committee that is working to develop clean energy goals and benchmarks through a transparent and inclusive stakeholder process. The Stillwater City Council passed a resolution in early 2020 committing to 100% clean, renewable energy and forming a citizen Renewable Energy Task Force.
“We are eager to hear from the community as the task force carries out this important initiative. The community appreciates the work and commitment of the task force members as Stillwater explores a transition to clean and renewable energy.” -- Becky Taylor, task force liaison and Chief Civic Innovation Officer for the City of Stillwater
Task Force Members
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About this Page
This page is meant to function as the hub of civic engagement for this Task Force. Feedback is shared with City Council and city staff. Comments made on this page, as well as any comments made to city staff through email, are considered public documents. For questions about this, click on "Who's Listening."
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The Energy Out work group is looking at ways to increase efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas emissions with ideas like electric vehicles, waste reduction and efficient buildings.
View All Ideasabout 1 year ago
Oklahoma State University Energy Guidelines have helped save significant energy costs since 2007
https://fm.okstate.edu/energyservices/energymanagement/energy-guidelines.html
11 months ago
Dept. of Energy: State and Local Solution Center
"The State and Local Solution Center provides resources to enable strategic investments in energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies through the use of innovative practices across the United States by a wide range of stakeholders, in partnership with state and local organizations and community-based nonprofits. To contact us, please email stateandlocal@ee.doe.gov. We are committed to a three-business-day-or-less response time for all state, local government, and K–12 school district inquiries." https://www.energy.gov/eere/slsc/state-and-local-solution-center
9 months ago
Prometheus Fuels Venture/ EV Conversion kits
The January 2022 report for the Renewable Energy Task Force showed transportation made up ~3/4 of GHG emissions and would be minimally influenced by the municipal vehicle fleet. This information may be concerning to the task force. There may be two solutions to help reduce GHG emissions based on this information. 1. https://prometheusfuels.com/ This company has a drop-in ready fuel for internal combustion engines made from sequestered carbon pulled out of the atmosphere using renewable energy to do so. There are competitors, though Prometheus has a current cost advantage from a DOE patent they acquired. They tout that can sell fuel at lower prices than current fossil fuels, and have an agreement with American Airlines to deliver fuel- who services the Stillwater airport. With OnCue in Stillwater, and the aerospace programs at OSU and SWO, it might be feasible to hedge future costs for these organizations while meeting GHG emission goals for the city of Stillwater. They are backed financially by companies such as BMW and Maersk, though may need labor to help to bring it to Stillwater, OK. Perhaps pitching an idea of an organization/city leasing and running modular forges would help bring it sooner. 2. Another idea is encourage a local shop or service dealer to pursue EV conversion training. EV's tend to lower maintenance requirements since they have less moving parts to break. A conversion would be feasible towards the end of an ICE vehicle's life when those components begin to break down, assuming the body is in good condition. A conversion appears simple, and is more easily affordable than buying a new EV ($8,000+ vs. $30,000). Major automobile companies are offering or working on packages to do this. -Chevrolet: https://www.chevrolet.com/performance-parts/electrification -Ford: https://media.ford.com/content/fordmedia/fna/us/en/news/2021/11/02/all-electric-f-100-eluminator-concept.html -Independent conversion companies or DIY: https://www.motorauthority.com/news/1134476_lingenfelter-built-an-electric-el-camino-with-gm-s-connect-cruise-crate-motor https://ev4unow.com/products/
about 1 year ago
Reduce global manufacturing emissions by hosting/publicizing furniture sale events (Similar to real pokes pass it on)
Students are looking for furniture at the beginning of every academic year- by encouraging students and other people who want to buy/sell/get rid of furniture to accept used items like tables and chairs, we could reduce the need to buy new furniture, thus reducing our global emissions impact. This would not be directly measurable for Stillwater's emissions, but would have the added benefit of low cost furniture for students.
about 1 year ago
Working with local manufacturing and industrial businesses to increase motor efficiency
Many manufacturing and industrial businesses rely on electric motors to conduct their operations. By increasing motor efficiencies even by small percentages, they will use a significant amount of energy less by wasting a smaller amount daily.
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The Supply group is exploring ways to increase the supply of renewables available with ideas like solar panels, distributed generation and community solar.
View All Ideasover 1 year ago
OEC and Norman Public Schools in solar partnership to generate the equivalent of nearly 30 percent of the school district's energy usage
https://okcoop.org/oec-announces-new-solar-partnership-with-norman-public-schools/
over 1 year ago
The public health burden of natural gas
"...we should support efforts to advance renewable energy like wind and solar power and increase energy efficiency measures to save consumers money and cut emissions. These technologies don’t require fuel and are significantly less risky than gas and coal from a financial perspective, not to mention avoiding the public health burdens described..." in this article from the Union of Concerned Scientists. https://blog.ucsusa.org/science-blogger/public-health-burden-natural-gas/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=fb&fbclid=IwAR0-4a2ZZupRxu-2IHtBxuwNJPGwZiCN_gzZErvKfXTXqUAiV-ZRSr_n0cY
over 1 year ago
Cleveland's Climate Action Plan focuses on helping people
https://www.npr.org/2021/06/21/1003227623/cleveland-wants-climate-justice-can-the-biden-administration-help
over 1 year ago
Cajon Valley Union School District is ditching diesel with electric school buses
State and federal grant funding helped the school district purchase electric buses. The purchase price is greater, but maintenance costs are lower than with traditional buses. Using V2G platform from NUVVE Holding Company, the vehicles also serve as battery storage, sending energy back to the grid while they are parked. https://stnonline.com/news/california-district-shares-tips-for-electric-school-bus-operations/ https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/nuvve-expands-vehicle-to-grid-footprint-to-help-electrify-school-buses-301326601.html
11 months ago
In Colorado, Weatherization Assistance Program funds help retrofit older, propane-heated, homes, with new, electric appliances
Infrastructure law may help Colorado's aim to tackle poverty and climate change https://www.wunc.org/2021-12-22/infrastructure-law-may-help-colorados-aim-to-tackle-poverty-and-climate-change
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Is there another renewable energy goal that you would like to see the City work toward? Tell us about it here!
View All Ideasabout 1 year ago
Include a section on manufacturing/industry in the draft action report
To me, it makes sense to split the sections of the report by emission type, which it looks like it is to an extent: Transportation, agriculture, commercial/residential, industry, and electricity. However, I don't really see manufacturing, industry, or general production represented in this report. Breakthrough energy* (link below) describes manufacturing with these examples: "the cement in our buildings and bridges, the steel in our cars and appliances, the clothes we wear, the books we read, the plastic toys and containers we buy, refining the gas we put in our cars." The emissions from electric use in these industries are sometimes included in these calculations, making the total percentage unclear, but the impact of energy use & emissions is substantial, regardless. Here are some ideas about reducing emissions in the manufacturing sector: - partnering with OSU to promote sustainable cement production research. The impact of this would likely be beyond local production. - Encouraging local manufacturing partners to electrify their processes when possible (with the future goal of obtaining that electricity from 100% emission-free sources) - Encouraging local manufacturing partners to replace their electric motors with more efficient models: this is proposed by ABB as one of the most effective ways to reduce emissions- "global electricity consumption to be reduced by 10%" ** (link below) - Encourage re-usage when possible (real pokes pass it on, thrift shopping locally) Manufacturing community partners: https://members.greaterstillwaterchamber.com/list/ql/manufacturing-16 https://members.greaterstillwaterchamber.com/list/ql/automotive-marine-32 https://members.greaterstillwaterchamber.com/list/ql/retail-23 * Breakthrough energy: https://www.breakthroughenergy.org/us-policy-overview/manufacturing ** ABB motor article: https://new.abb.com/news/detail/75020/abb-urges-greater-adoption-of-high-efficiency-motors-and-drives-to-combat-climate-change-global-electricity-consumption-to-be-reduced-by-10 Another related article: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/mfg-day-highlights-climate-change-opportunities-301389935.html
about 1 year ago
Work with OSU to kickstart civil engineering research to manufacturing cement more sustainably
According to breakthrough energy (Gates foundation climate group- link below), manufacturing 1 ton of cement creates 1 ton of CO2. Stillwater could expand its emissions impact outside of the city by connecting OSU with research grants for sustainable manufacturing, with an emphasis on cement. Link: https://www.breakthroughenergy.org/our-challenge/the-grand-challenges
Level of Engagement
Inform: Give information to the community
Consult: Get feedback from the community
Involve: Community input/feedback influence the process
Collaborate/Partner: City and community work as equal partners
Who's Listening
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Phone 405-533-8411 Email loren.smith@stillwater.org -
Videos
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Renewable Energy Task Force member Robin Cornwell provided a great update to Council.