SUBJECT:
Title
A Resolution of the Town Council of the Town of Erie Approving a Beneficial Electrification Plan
Body
DEPARTMENT: Environmental Services
Department
PRESENTER(S): Eryka Thorley, Sustainability Manager
First Name Last Name, Title
FISCAL SUMMARY: N/A
POLICY ISSUES:
Erie’s Beneficial Electrification Plan builds on initiatives and policies established in its 2019 Sustainability Plan, 2024 Climate Emergency Declaration, and 2023 Community Survey priorities of safety, fiscal responsibility, and natural environment protection identified by residents. The Council reviewed this item with staff and consultants during the March 18th Study Session.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION:
Recommendation
Adoption of the Town of Erie Beneficial Electrification Plan.
End
SUMMARY AND BACKGROUND OF SUBJECT MATTER:
Beneficial electrification is the process of replacing direct fossil fuel (natural gas, propane, gasoline, diesel) burning equipment with electricity using equivalents in homes, businesses and transportation networks. This transition is important for many reasons, including improving indoor and outdoor air quality, increasing resilience through onsite renewable energy and battery storage systems, which support electric powered equipment, and significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to climate warming.
The Town of Erie and Partners In Energy conducted a six-month partner engagement process with community organizations, residents and businesses, including local school districts, developers and utility companies, to develop this final Beneficial Electrification Plan for the community. This plan establishes a roadmap for Erie to continue reducing emissions from Erie’s built environment and transportation networks in developing areas, as well as existing infrastructure. This plan includes 18-24 months of implementation support from Partners In Energy to reach identified strategies and goals.
Previous Community Survey results reflect strong support among residents for sustainability and resilience as key drivers for the community (with 84% of respondents indicating that protecting environmental quality of the community should be either a high priority (59%) or medium priority (25%). This Beneficial Electrification Plan aligns with these goals, prioritizing and highlighting energy efficiency, building and transportation electrification and matching community incentives for residential, commercial and municipal efforts. Electrification of Erie’s buildings and transportation where possible not only increases comfort and energy efficiency, it improves air quality, supports economic growth and job creation and cost savings but also aligns with Erie’s sustainability and climate goals by reducing greenhouse gas emissions from our built environment, our largest source of emissions in Erie.
COUNCIL PRIORITY(S) ADDRESSED:
ü Prosperous Economy
ü Well-Maintained Transportation Infrastructure
ü Safe and Healthy Community
ü Environmentally Sustainable
ü Fiscally Responsible
ATTACHMENT(S):
1. Beneficial Electrification Plan
2. Resolution 25-079; Beneficial Electrification Plan-R050825