thumbnail

Resilient and Energy Efficient Municipal Infrastructure

Problem

The City of Jersey City has ambitious goals for reducing GHG emissions and the use of renewable energy but has a backlog of older, inefficient municipal buildings that need to be upgraded. We also have solar arrays and EV garbage trucks, but no way of tapping into the solar power or ensuring EV charging during a disruption of the energy grid. As a coastal city facing the threat of more frequent and more severe storm events, in addition to sea-level rise, it is important to ensure that our critical infrastructure is resilient to major storm events.

 

Solution

The solution is to leverage the NJ Energy Savings Improvement Program (ESIP) in conjunction with other state and utility incentives to reduce operational costs, improve energy resiliency, and leverage energy savings to minimize cost on urgent capital infrastructure projects at over 20 municipal buildings. Additionally, adding battery storage to an existing generator and 1.23-megawatt solar panel array at the municipal services complex to create a microgrid that can function if the conventional grid loses power during a storm event, ensuring that the City’s new electric garbage trucks can be charged.

thumbnail

New Marker Solar Project

Problem

The 2021 Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report states that greenhouse gas concentrations are driving profound change to the Earth System, including global warming, rising sea levels, and an increase in climate and weather extremes. As a result, the City of Cincinnati is actively working to dramatically reduce its carbon emissions and do so in a fiscally responsible way that provides economic benefit to the Greater Cincinnati region.

 

Solution

To drastically reduce the carbon footprint of cities, we must take action that spurs large-scale development of renewable energy utilizing our consumption and purchasing power to drive these arrays and lead to local community economic development opportunities. 
Cincinnati is developing a 100-megawatt solar array, the country’s largest municipal led solar array, that will provide solar power for city government operations and the residents of Cincinnati through the Community Choice Aggregation Program (CCA).
By intentionally directing how the City purchases energy, Cincinnati can lead large-scale solar development, create savings for the taxpayers, and ensure community benefits such as job creation, fair wages, and investments in schools and government within the solar array jurisdiction.

thumbnail

Clean Heat Plan for Natural Gas Sector Emission Reductions

Problem

 Colorado must reduce greenhouse gas emissions from all sectors in order to meet science-based reduction goals, and the built environment produces a significant amount of pollution from the use of gas to heat homes and businesses and to heat water in those buildings. In addition, gas leaks in the supply chain and commercial and industrial processes contribute to greenhouse gas pollution. There are also many sources of fugitive methane from landfills, coal mines, wastewater treatment plants, etc that need to be mitigated.

 

Solution

This policy, introduced as SB21-264, implements a quantifiable performance standard that enables Colorado utilities to use energy efficiency, biomethane, hydrogen, recovered methane, beneficial electrification of customer end uses, cost-effective leak reductions, and more to efficiently lower greenhouse gas emissions. It requires gas distribution utilities to submit Clean Heat Plans, requiring commission approval, that meet Clean Heat Targets: as compared to a 2015 baseline, utilities must achieve a 4% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2025 and a 22% reduction by 2030. A cost cap will be established that limits the cost of each utility’s Clean Heat Plan to a maximum of 2.5% of annual gas bills for all full-service customers as a whole. 

thumbnail

SLC Digital Equity

Problem

The pandemic brought to light the importance of broadband access to essential daily tasks. This was especially the case as schools were forced to go virtual and families struggled to navigate online education for the first time. Salt Lake City students from low-income families, many of whom lack quality broadband access, a computer or both, were the most impacted as traditional community resources such as libraries and public access computer labs were also forced to close due to the pandemic. A recent study by Michigan State University found that students who do not have access to the Internet from home or rely solely on cellular data perform lower on a range of metrics, including homework completion and grade point average (half a letter grade lower). Bridging this technology gap will increase digital literacy and improve student achievements in Salt Lake City. 

 

Solution

The Digital Equity Policy of Salt Lake City was adopted on September 1, 2020 to address the imbalances related to digital equity. Two of the policy’s targeted action items called for increasing access to affordable broadband services and reliable devices. Salt Lake City is doing this through a program known as City Connect which activates public wifi hotspots in community centers and parks throughout the City and provides surplus computers to low-income students and families. Additionally, through a public-private partnership with Comcast “Lift Zones”, Salt Lake City is able to bring high quality broadband service to our community learning centers and facilities supporting our Youth and Family programs.

thumbnail

Buddy Dyer, Mayor (Orlando, FL)

Moving to Solar

This week, NewDEAL Leader Mayor Buddy Dyer joined other local and county leaders and organizations in signing the 2030 Solar Pledge to kick off the city of Orlando’s campaign to transition businesses and municipalities to 100% solar energy by 2030. The $420 million investment from the city’s utilities commission will be utilized to transform energy facilities to be more sustainable and eco-friendly. Mayor Dyer noted “solar energy is good for the economy. It’s a green job creator. It’s good for public health and it helps address climate change”, and hopes that other cities will be inspired by this transition and seek alternative energy solutions themselves. To read more about Orlando’s solar campaign, read the article here.

thumbnail

Lauren McLean, Mayor (Boise, ID)

Boise Continues to Lead on Climate

Last week, NewDEAL Leader Boise, ID Mayor Lauren McLean met with President Biden during a visit he made to Boise to tour the National Intermountain Fire Center, which leads wildfire response in the West. Mayor McLean highlighted Boise’s holistic Climate Action Roadmap, which commits the city to 100% renewable energy by 2035, funds electrification of all municipal buildings, and identifies environmental justice, equity, and community health concerns across the city. For more on Boise’s work, take a look at the NewDEAL Forum’s Climate Solutions report, which features Boise as one of its “model cities.”

thumbnail

Kate Gallego, Mayor (Phoenix, AZ)

First in the Nation Heat Mitigation Office

In Phoenix, where rising temperatures and extreme heat due to climate change are threatening the City’s economic vitality and health of its residents, NewDEAL Leader Mayor Kate Gallego this week announced the establishment of a Heat Response & Mitigation Office. The new department, the first of its kind in the nation, will examine scientific ways to address rising temperatures and the serious dangers they can pose to residents. “Already, Phoenix is recognized as a leader in cooling strategies and support for heat vulnerable residents,” Gallego said, “and this investment is reflective of Phoenix’s continued commitment to develop innovative solutions to ensure our city’s health and livability.” Read more about the new office and how Phoenix continues to be a leader in heat mitigation.

thumbnail

Troy Singleton, Senator (Moorestown, NJ)

New Energy Efficiency Fund in New Jersey

Recently, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy signed NewDEAL Leader Senator Troy Singleton’s legislation establishing a new energy efficiency fund into law. The bill will use $180 million in American Rescue Plan funding to provide grants to schools and small businesses for the repair and upgrading of central heating/cooling systems, plumbing, and appliances. Senator Singleton said as schools and businesses reopen for in-person service, “there are concerns about whether they have adequate ventilation systems to meet health and safety requirements.” The law will approve applicants for grants by December 1, 2021. Read more.

thumbnail

Bill Ferguson, Senate President (MD) & Brooke Lierman, Delegate (Baltimore, MD)

Expanding Broadband Access in Maryland

Recently, NewDEAL Leader Maryland Senate President Bill Ferguson joined other Democratic leaders and the state’s Governor to announce a new Connect Maryland initiative to boost broadband access, using $300 million in American Rescue Plan funds, supplemented with $100 million in state funding. Spending priorities will be set by a bipartisan workgroup of the city, county, and state elected officials. The new initiative aims to achieve the 98% connectivity goal set by legislation sponsored by NewDEAL Leader Delegate Brooke Lierman, which also created a statewide broadband office to develop a plan for the expansion. Read more on how Maryland NewDEALers are working to ensure everyone in their state can get connected, and keep an eye on the NewDEAL Forum Broadband Task Force for continued work on policy guidance to achieve connectivity across the nation.

thumbnail

Jeff Bridges, Senator (Greenwood Village, CO)

Closing Colorado’s Digital Divide

This week, NewDEAL Leader Colorado Senator Jeff Bridges’ bill to invest in internet access was signed into law. With the pandemic adding urgency to the necessity for access to high-speed reliable internet to participate in economic activities, education, telehealth, and more, Bridges’ bill provides $75 million to connect unserved and underserved communities, including $20 million specifically set aside for the Ute Mountain and Southern Ute Tribes. Learn more about how this funding increases equity, and keep an eye out for information on similar topics from the NewDEAL Forum Broadband Task Force.