Post updated on October 3, 2018
Update: City Council held a public hearing on the 2019-20 biennial budget and considered a 100% renewable electricity resolution on Tuesday, October 2. Council approved the 100% renewable electricity resolution by a vote of 6-1; read the story in the Coloradoan here: https://www.coloradoan.com/story/news/2018/10/02/fort-collins-sets-100-p…. Comments that we made on both of those agenda items follow. A photo of those who came to the council meeting to support the 100% renewable electricity resolution is attached at the bottom of this post.
FCSG Statement on Support for CAP Goals in Biennial Budget
The Fort Collins Sustainability Group (FCSG) has reviewed those portions of the City Manager’s Recommended Biennial Budget for 2019-20 that impact Climate Action Plan (CAP) goals. We are generally pleased with the level of support in that document for achieving those goals. We are concerned, however, that according to an analysis performed by City staff on September 20th, funded offers plus a solar project undertaken by the Platte River Power Authority will not be quite sufficient to achieve the 2020 goal of 20% greenhouse gas emissions reductions by 2020 compared to 2005 levels. We therefore support the proposed additional 0.63% electric rate increase to fund several other offers that will help get our community over the goal line.
Specifically, we are pleased to see the following offers included in the City Manager’s Recommended Budget:
43.12: CAP/Energy Policy Update: This offer will fund a planning effort geared toward achieving the City’s very ambitious 2030 goal of reducing its GHG emissions 80% compared to 2005 levels.
45.5: Transfort 365 Service: The FCSG was part of a coalition that supported extending Transfort service to Sundays and holidays, and we are happy to see the City Manager recommending the continuation of this level of service.
9.80 Energy Services: This offer supports an array of incentives and assistance to homeowners and business owners to reduce their consumption of electricity and natural gas, and will reduce CO2 emissions by more than 25,000 metric tons annually.
