Renewable Energy Task Force

Converting City's transportation fleet will actually save us money - https://cleantechnica.com/2021/06/25/hawaiis-state-department-of-transp

Transition City Vehicle's to Electric

https://www.wsj.com/articles/battle-brews-over-banning-natural-gas-to-homes-11622334674

Grant funding is available (applications due by December 2021) to replace aging school buses in Oklahoma!

The Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) is pleased to announce funding is now available for the Oklahoma Clean Diesel Program/DERA. The program is focused on replacing older diesel school buses with new diesel, gasoline, all-electric, propane (LPG), or natural gas (LNG or CNG) school buses. https://www.deq.ok.gov/2021-new-releases/deq-announces-clean-diesel-dera-funding-available-for-oklahoma-schools/

"Drive Clean" public education opportunity: October 16 or October 20 on Zoom

Thinking about making the switch to an electric vehicle (EV)? Join the League of Women Voters for a Drive Clean webinar on October 16 & October 20. The one-hour gatherings, which the League is co-hosting with nonprofit Drive Clean, will feature EV owners sharing their experiences, information on government incentives, and charging solutions for apartment dwellers, among other considerations. Switching to an electric vehicle is a significant step all drivers can take to lower carbon emissions. https://drivecleancalifornia.org/league-of-women-voters/

Community Action agency leverages funding to help 54 families improve home energy efficiency - this could be a model for COCAA?

For many Minnesota households (and households everywhere), energy costs can eat up a big part of the family budget. Reducing this energy burden requires an approach that brings together several different pieces: energy efficiency upgrades to the home, habit changes to conserve energy, and, in some cases, financial assistance. As Jeff Gladis, Housing Director at United Community Action Partnership, explained, “Many clients want to be able to be more self-sufficient but need a helping hand. By conserving energy, we are able to stretch budgets.” https://www.cleanenergyresourceteams.org/seed-grant-project-reduces-energy-burden-54-minnesota-families?mc_cid=86e7ec126d&mc_eid=971a2ed5af

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

DOE releases a guide to increasing solar energy use in communities

https://pv-magazine-usa.com/2022/01/19/doe-releases-a-guide-to-increasing-solar-energy-use-in-communities/

Here's how one small Minnesota city is implementing their energy action plan: https://www.cleanenergyresourceteams.org/city-northfield-takes

After adopting its climate action plan in 2019, the City of Northfield has taken steps to advance clean energy by implementing both solar and energy efficiency measures with support from a CERT Seed Grant. In addition to exploring community-wide solar potential, the Southeast CERT seed grant helped the City of Northfield support energy efficiency investments through outreach to multi-family building owners and managers. This project has helped spur thinking with regard to how the City can support solar and renewable energy options for residents who can’t do their own solar or don’t qualify for standard community solar gardens.

Solar Power Booms in Georgia, Where It Isn’t Mandated. The state has no subsidies or renewable energy requirements...

Georgia republicans recognize solar energy makes sense economically - representing cheap renewable power and creating jobs and tax revenue. https://www.wsj.com/articles/solar-power-booms-in-georgia-where-it-isnt-mandated-11629637200?mod=searchresults_pos1&page=1

Utility Scale Solar in a changing climate - help for local officials

Recently released guidebook, Solar@Scale: A Local Government Guidebook for Improving Large-Scale Solar Development Outcomes designed to help local government officials who lack the resources to hire a renewable expert on their own. The guidebook outlines tools for local officials to take advantage of opportunities. https://icma.org/documents/solarscale-guidebook?utm_source=ICMA_website&utm_medium=solar_at_scale_project_page&utm_campaign=guidebook_promo

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

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