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
|
|
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."
-
Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linkedin Email this link
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 Ideas4 months ago
Funding for home utility assessments/upgrades- Maycomb Capital Community Outcomes Fund?
This fund provides pay-for-success financing, matching private capital with local priorities to find solutions to social challenges. https://www.maycombcapital.com/the-community-outcomes-fund
18 days 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.
18 days ago
Increase bike-friendliness of streets to encourage alternate transportation to cars and buses
Stillwater isn't very bike-friendly for the general public; drivers honk and treat cyclists badly, the roads to nearby businesses, especially from OSU campus, aren't really fit for bikes, and bike lanes are inconsistent. We might be able to reduce emissions from driving by making it easier for people to ride bikes. I especially think college students would take advantage of this.
18 days ago
Reduce mowing by replacing grass with slower-growing species or other plants
One estimate gives that a lawn mower burning one gallon of gasoline produces 20 lbs of CO2. We can reduce CO2 emissions by mowing less and replacing some lawn areas with native plants or grass that grows more slowly.
26 days ago
Electric Vehicles Poised to Rev Up Government Fleets
City of Stillwater can lead by example by electrifying the City fleet. "Switching to electric vehicles holds two main advantages for addressing climate change: It‘s a simple step cities and states can take and it cuts into their biggest contributor to the greenhouse gas emissions." Nationwide, transportation accounts for 29% of emissions—the largest single contributor, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. https://www.route-fifty.com/management/2021/09/electric-vehicles-poised-rev-government-fleets/185405/
-
Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linkedin Email this link
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 Ideas4 months ago
Analysis shows value of DG is much greater than utilities would have you believe - https://www.volts.wtf/p/rooftop-solar-and-home-batteries
Distributed Generation is not an alternative to big power plants, but a complement
3 months 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
2 months ago
Rooftop Solar $ Continue to Fall - https://pv-magazine-usa.com/2021/08/16/residential-solar-pricing-down-6-3-hints-of-greater-drops-coming/
Residential Solar Costs Continue to Fall to All Time Low of $2.67/watt
2 months ago
LEED for Cities helps local leaders create responsible, sustainable and specific plans for energy, water, waste, transportation...
The certification programs revolutionize the way cities and communities are planned, developed and operated in order to improve their overall sustainability and quality of life. The LEED framework encompasses social, economic and environmental performance indicators and strategies with a clear, data-driven means of benchmarking and communicating progress. The program is aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and is influenced by our engagement with hundreds of cities and communities around the globe. https://www.usgbc.org/leed/rating-systems/leed-for-cities
about 2 months ago
Iron Air Battery Cost Down to $25/kWh - https://www.theinformation.com/newsletters/the-electric/archive/d9343ca4-0fc3-4228-913e-122c41c2a477
Iron Air battery technology drives down the cost of stationary storage to $25/kWh, 4x cheaper than Lithium Ion & LiFePO
-
Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linkedin Email this link
Is there another renewable energy goal that you would like to see the City work toward? Tell us about it here!
View All Ideas2 days 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
2 days 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
-
Phone 405-533-8411 Email loren.smith@stillwater.org -
Videos
-
-
-
-
-
Renewable Energy Task Force member Robin Cornwell provided a great update to Council.
