Tag: — North America

Georgetown, Texas, USA

Georgetown, Texas, USA

  • Target: Powered by 100 % renewable energy.
  • Status: Achieved
  • RES: Solar and windpower.
  • Implementation: The city of Georgetown in Texas is powered by 100 % renewable energy  through long-term deals to supply the city with solar and wind power. The decision was made when it was found that renewable energy would be cheaper and more reliable than fossil fuels. The cost of solar panels had fallen by more than 63 % since 2010, with wind showing similar declines. The intervention would secure fixed electricity rates similar to the current rate of about 9.6 cents per kilowatt-hour and would protect the city against fluctuations in the price of fossil fuels. Renewables would require much less water use than traditional power generation, which is a great advantage in drier states such as Texas. Investing in the city’s own renewable energy sources would also create great local economic opportunities. Many companies, especially those in the high-tech sector, have invested in green sources of power for their office and manufacturing facilities. Georgetown’s 100% renewable power supply have helped companies achieve their sustainability goals at a competitive price. A major success has been the city's agreement with SunEdison, a multinational solar energy company, to purchase the power generated from a 150MW solar farm. The deal with SunEdison will be enough to power more than 24,000 homes every year for the next 25 years. Coupled with a 2014 agreement with EDF to purchase a 140-megawatts wind power plant, Georgetown will be able to meet all of its electricity needs without coal, oil, natural gas, or nuclear power.
  • Population: 55,716 (2014)
  • Area: 54.3 sq mi (141 km2)
  • Link: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/mar/28/georgetown-texas-renewable-green-energy
Georgetown, Texas, USA

Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA

Calder Plaza, Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA

  • Target: To become a fossil fuel free city, at least in the electricity sector, by 2020.
  • Status: In progress
  • RES: Solar photovoltaic systems, and geothermal systems.
  • Implementation: Grand Rapids is one of the most populous cities in the US state of Michigan.  In 2010, the electricity production was mostly based on coal burning power plants and about 20% came from renewable energies. To achieve the 100%-RE target in the electricity sector, as announced by the mayor in 2005, Grand Rapids has implemented several RE projects. In 2010, the US Department of Energy awarded the city a ‘Congressially Directed Project Grand’. The city has since received financial support to implement photovoltaic systems. It has installed geothermal systems at two fire stations in the city. The US Environmental Protection Agency has also provided financial support to convert a former landfill site into a large scale solar photovoltaic farm.
  • Population: 198,829 (2017)
  • Area: 45.31 sq mi (117.35 km2)
  • Link: https://www.experiencegr.com/about-grand-rapids/green-grand-rapids/
Calder Plaza, Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA
  • Calder Plaza, Grand Rapids © Steven Depolo CC BY 2.0

Greensburg, Kansas, USA

Greensburg, Kansas, USA

  • Target: 100% renewable energy
  • Status: Achieved
  • RES: Wind farm, small solar installations and biogas and biodiesel generator, LEED Buildings, geothermal heating, charging stations for electric vehicles.
  • Implementation: Greensburg is a small rural town in Kansas, USA. It is a story of triumph from tragedy. In 2007, a tornado hit Greensburg and severely damaged or destroyed 90% of its structures. Shortly after this tragedy, the community, led by Mayor Bob Dixon decided to rebuild Greensburg as a sustainable community. A 'Long-Term Community Recovery Plan' was developed in 2007 and in 2008 Greensburg residents developed a 'Sustainable Comprehensive Plan' for the city’s next 20 years that would focus on cost-effective energy efficiency and on operating with 100% RE. Today, Greensburg Wind Farm supplies 12.5 MW of RE to the town. The RE production is complemented by small solar installations, while biogas and biodiesel generators are used for emergency backup. The town uses only about 1/3 of the power generated and excess power is fed back to the grid and offered as RE credits for other customers. Greensburg's Plan mandated that all city-owned buildings had to achieve the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED Platinum rating. This has resulted in 42% energy savings, with 13 community buildings saving a combined total of USD$200,000 in energy costs per year. Also many private buildings are exceeding 40% in energy savings. For the transport sector, the city encourages alternative and efficient transportation options, more pedestrian activity and promoting charging stations for electric vehicles. The creation of the Greensburg Plan essentially involved a range of stakeholders through many community meetings. It included city leaders, business owners, non-profit organisations (e.g. Greensburg Green Town), residents as well as experts from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). To implement Greenburg's Plan, the DOE/NREL team helped identify key steps: bringing stakeholders together, choosing the right leaders, creating a common vision, having goals, finding funds and writing an energy plan.
  • Population: 777 (2010)
  • Area: 1.48 sq mi (3.83 km2)
  • Link: http://www.greensburgks.org
Greensburg, Kansas, USA

Hawaii, USA

Waikiki, Hawaii, USA

  • Target: 100% RE by 2045 in the electricity sector, with several interim benchmarks.
  • Status: In progress
  • RES: Solar power and wind power.
  • Implementation: In 2012, Hawaii was importing 93% of the energy it consumed and in 2013, the state had the highest electricity prices in the nation, more than three times higher than the average electricity price in the mainland states. In 2012, 71% of the electricity produced in the Hawaii was generated with oil, and in 2012 only 18% with renewable energy sources. By 2014, cost competitiveness of renewable energy technology was driving considerable increase in renewable energy uptake on the Hawaii islands. According to the US EIA, wind is estimated to be able to deliver electricity at a price of 7 ¢/kWh, similarly geothermal at approximately 10 ¢/kWh and utility scale solar PV at approximately 16 ¢/kWh. This is compared to the price of oil-generated electricity which was averaging 34 ¢/kWh in 2014. From 2007 to 2013, solar power generation across the islands went from 8 GWh in 2007 to 404 GWh, while wind power generation more than doubled. In 2015, a joint House-Senate committee in Hawaii agreed on House Bill 623 to set a 100% RE target and became the first US state to commit to this goal. In May of that year, Hawaii’s state legislature committed that the target be reached by 2045, with an interim goals of 30 % RE by 2020, 40 % RE by 2030, and 70 % RE by 2040. (Hawaii's renewable energy plan builds on earlier energy policy frameworks established in 2009, which set two definitive targets: cover 40% of the island needs for electricity only with renewable energy sources by 2030, and at the same time reduce electricity consumption by 30% by implementing Energy Efficiency Portfolio Standards.)
  • Population: 1,427,538 (2017)
  • Area: 10,931 sq mi (28,311 km2)
  • Link: http://www.transverter.com/REACH7.pdf
Waikiki, Hawaii, USA

Ithaca, NY, USA

Ithaca, New York, USA

  • Target: 100% renewable energy
  • Status: In progress
  • RES: Varied (via renewable energy certificates)
  • Implementation: In January 2012, the City of Ithaca, NY began purchasing Green-e Energy-certified renewable energy credits (RECs) to cover all the electricity demand of its municipal buildings, street lights and traffic lights with renewable electricity. The REC purchase was conducted through Municipal Electric and Gas Alliance Inc. (MEGA), a non-profit aggregator of gas and electricity in which Ithaca participates. Energy aggregators like MEGA bundle participants in order to be able to build buying power and bid for lower prices. In purchasing RECs, the city has helped increase the market for renewable-sourced generation facilities, decrease the generation of greenhouse gases, and offset the city government's emissions. In February 2012, following the implementation of the RECs contract, the City joined EPA's Green Power Partnership program committing to continue to pursue and support renewable energy sources. The city already has a history of implementing renewable energy projects. In 1996, the city installed a geothermal heating and cooling system at the Ithaca Youth Bureau building, which is still being used today, thus reducing energy costs and the use of fossil fuels for heating/cooling. In 2011, the city was awarded a grant to install solar thermal hot water systems on 2 city buildings.
  • Population: 53,661 urban, 101,564 metro (2010)
  • Area: 24.581 sq mi (63.66 km2) urban, 474.649 sq mi (1,229.34 km2) metro
  • Link: https://www.cityofithaca.org/425/Energy
Ithaca, New York, USA

Kodiak, Alaska, USA

Kodiak, Alaska, USA

  • Target: Produce 100% of the town’s electrical demand with renewable energy by 2020.
  • Status: Achieved - By 2014, 99.7% of the electricity came from wind and hydropower.
  • RES: Wind turbines, smart battery system, grid integration, hydropower.
  • Implementation: In 2008, a renewable energy fund was convened by the State of Alaska via the Alaska Energy Authority. Since, a total of US$55.6 million has been directly and indirectly invested through cooperation with Kodiak Electric Association (KEA).
  • Population: 15,000
  • Area: 13.05 km²
  • Link: https://www.city.kodiak.ak.us/
Kodiak, Alaska, USA

Lancaster, California, USA

Lancaster, California, USA

  • Target: Net zero city for electricity use by 2020
  • Status: In progress
  • RES: Solar energy
  • Implementation: In 2008, Lancaster Mayor R. Rex Parris initiated the net zero city campaign by launching the “Solar Lancaster” program, an innovative public-private partnership with solar firm SolarCity which enables local residents and businesses to install solar energy systems at a significant cost savings over their existing energy bills. He also led an initiative to streamline and fast-track renewable energy developments of all types, from small single-home installations to larger developments which will provide hundreds of megawatts of renewable energy. In relation to solar permits, Lancaster’s approval process for homeowners wanting to install solar energy was shortened. What usually took weeks or even months in some jurisdictions, now could be performed over-the-counter. Furthermore, zoning adjustments were made to expand the installation of different types renewable energy systems throughout the city. By 2013, a new ordinance was in place requiring new single family residential units been built on or after January 1, 2014 to provide solar-generated power at a minimum average of 1kW per unit.  To date, over 1700 single-family residential solar permits have been issued, and more than 100 homeowners and businesses have taken advantage of the Solar Lancaster program.
    Solar energy systems on six municipal facilities generate 1.5 MW of renewable energy and help save taxpayers approximately $6 million over 15 years. The city’s Lancaster Power Authority, formed in 2011, partnered with Eastside and Lancaster School Districts is installing 7.5 MW of solar energy-producing parking shade structures at 25 school sites. These projects will provide substantial energy savings and generate an estimated revenue of $20 million. Other success stories include the KB-BYD project, which united China-based technology and manufacturing giant Build Your Dreams (BYD) with KB Home to create an affordable solar energy housing community. BYD’s advanced battery technology will provide households with a way to use solar energy and help store the energy for use during nighttime hours or power outages. The City also actively recruits solar developers. The firm First Solar established its 230 MW AV Solar Ranch One in summer 2011, and Lancaster is already home to the nation’s first 5 MW power tower, constructed by eSolar. Other projects include a partnership with US Topco Energy, Inc., a division of Topco Scientific Taiwan, to build 50 MW utility-scale solar systems, and Beautiful Earth Group’s construction of two 19 MW photovoltaic plants. Each plant will be able to annually generate 16 gigawatt hours of electricity, approximately enough energy to power 10,000 homes. In 2013, Antelope Valley Solar Projects began construction of a 579 MW project. This SunPower technology project encompasses more than 3,000 acres and is anticipated to bring approximately 650 jobs to the Antelope Valley. To create a mechanism to spread Lancaster’s success and expertise in the field of renewable energy, the city led the establishment of the California Clean Energy Authority (CCEA). In addition, the City created the High Desert Power Authority (HDPA) to support the transmission of renewable electricity from Lancaster and the surrounding region to high-demand areas in the Los Angeles basin. Job creation is a key component of Lancaster’s renewable energy strategy. To accomplish this, the City is partnering with local higher education institutions such as the University of Antelope Valley to develop programs to ensure that the local workforce has the skills needed for future jobs in the renewable energy industry.
  • Population: 160,106 (2016)
  • Area: 94.56 sq mi (244.91 km2)
  • Link: City of Lancaster Alternative Energy
Lancaster, California, USA
Lancaster, California, USA

Leelanau Township, Michigan, USA

Glen Lake, Leelanau County, Michigan, USA

  • Target: 100% renewable energy for electricity, heating and transportation
  • Status: In progress
  • RES: Windpower, solar energy and geothermal.
  • Implementation: Leelenau Township is located on the eastern shore of Lake Michigan, and  is well known for its cherry industry and for summer tourism. In Northport, a small village with an area of 1.65 square miles located near the tip of Leelanau Peninsula, a group of local leaders had decided that the economic and environmental benefits of renewable energy were worth the effort to transition the township to 100% renewable energy. To enable the township to achieve this target, local university students and activist leaders began working together in 2014 to develop a Renewable Energy Community Plan. This effort would involve the University of Michigan’s School of Natural Resources and Environment (SNRE) Master’s Project Team with the Northport Energy Action Taskforce (NEAT). NEAT is a local non-profit, all volunteer, community based organisation that advocates and pursues actionable renewable energy and energy efficiency projects. Its members include senior retired professionals, farmers, government committee members, and others with influence in the community.

    The Renewable Energy Community Plan focuses on educating the public and garnering community support to accelerate efforts in becoming a resilient, energy self-sufficient and energy efficient community. It lays out a design and method of implementation for a model which other small Michigan communities can successfully emulate. The basis of the Leelanau model is the initial energy target of meeting the Leelanau-Northport's 30 million kilowatt hour annual electricity demand with renewable energy sources. Next is to expand the Plan to include the heating and transportation sectors.

    Renewable power installations already implemented in the township include a community wind turbine that helps power a local wastewater treatment plant, the solar powered Northport Creek Golf course, and other solar energy systems planned for local agricultural operations, wineries and government facilities. Some residents have installed renewable energy and efficiency upgrades in their homes, as well as geothermal units for heating and cooling. Among the financing models being explored in the Plan are community owned projects like a community solar farm in which multiple community members may own a stake in the system.
  • Population: 2,017 (2017)
  • Area: 227.6 sq mi (589.4 km2)
  • Link: https://www.northportenergy.org
Glen Lake, Leelanau County, Michigan, USA

Marbletown, New York, USA

Wynkoop Stone House, Stone Ridge, Marbletown, New York, USA

  • Target: 100% renewable energy
  • Status: In progress
  • RES: Hydropower, solar energy, biomass energy and heat pumps.
  • Implementation: Marbletown is located in New York's Hudson River Valley, positioned on the edges of the Catskills and Shawangunk Mountains. To achieve its energy target, Marbletown joined the Renewable Highlands Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) program, which was enabled by New York's Reforming the Energy Vision initiative. The CCA replaced the town's former electric utility, Central Hudson, as the default electricity provider. The CCA would procure generation for the town, while Central Hudson would continue to provide electricity delivery, service and billing. Customers also have the opportunity to opt out of the program at any time. Through group purchasing of electricity, it is expect that 100% renewable electricity will be supplied at a reduced price compared to electricity supplied by Central Hudson. If it turns out that the CCA cannot obtain electricity on advantageous terms, the town can leave the CCA at no cost and no further obligation. Marbletown CCA began operating in early 2019.

    As a rural town, most residents are completely car-dependent for their everyday needs. Marbletown has installed EV charging stations at the town's community and municipal buildings to encourage the use of E-vehicles. To address lower solar production in winter, combined with higher winter electricity demand for heating, Marbletown is looking to reduce energy consumption through better building efficiencies. However, this challenge may better be addressed outside the town's borders. The state of New York is pursuing the deployment of 2,400 MW of offshore wind, and hydropower resources from Quebec, Canada.

    Other than solar, local renewable energy resources found in Marbletown are hydropower and biomass. The town has numerous small streams and an existing run-of-river hydro plant. Many town residents save money by heating with wood stoves, rather than fuel oil. The state has generous incentives for the installation of advanced wood heating systems. Marbletown has also participated in a Solarize campaign that has resulted in 16 residential solar installations in the town and 30 additional installations in the other two participating towns. The town is also planning to lease their rooftops for community solar developments, upgrade the local utility-owned hydropower plant, ban natural-gas connections and pipelines in the town, modify the cost of building permits to favor building efficiency and electrification, amongst others. (Via Greentech Media)

  • Population: 5,607 (2010)
  • Area: 55.18 sq mi (142.92 km2)
  • Link: https://nyenergyweek.com/new-york-town-plans-take-100-renewable-energy/
Wynkoop Stone House, Stone Ridge, Marbletown, New York, USA

Marin County, California, USA

Stinson Beach, Marin County, California, USA

  • Target: Powered by 33% renewable electricity sources by 2015 and 100% by 2020.
  • Status: In progress
  • RES: Solar, wind, biogas, large hydro, and state system power.
  • Implementation: In 2010, Marin Clean Energy (MCE) launched California’s first Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) program, which by law allows cities and counties to aggregate the buying power of individual customers to secure alternative energy supply contracts. Marin County's CCA gives customers an alternative to the local investor owned utility’s (PG&E’s) electricity, which is principally sourced from nuclear and natural gas powered plants, along with large hydro, renewables, and unspecified sources. Via CCA, customers could now choose between Light Green (27% renewable energy) or Deep Green (100% renewable energy).

    The biggest challenge associated with launching and operating a CCA was the requirement that investor owned utilities had to cooperate fully with attempts to form a CCA. The investor owned utility in Marin County initially opposed the creation of MCE through misleading ant-MCE marketing campaigns to thousands of potential customers. However, since new legislation was passed which imposes specific requirements on the relationship between a CCA and an investor-owned utility, the working relationship with PG&E has improved.

    So far, Marin County has invested in 33.2 MW of new renewables, and has allowed customers to choose where their electricity comes from. Projects have largely been financed through load guarantees. Initial Marin Clean Energy start-up costs in 2010 were loaned by River City Bank.  The local joint powers authority formed to administer Marin Clean Energy. The program is designed to be self-funding through the electric customer rates so there is no use of public funds or taxpayer dollars.
  • Population: 260,651 (2016)
  • Area: 828 sq mi (2,140 km2)
  • Link: https://www.mcecleanenergy.org
Stinson Beach, Marin County, California, USA