Alternative Energy Task Force: Final Draft Report and Recommendations

1. Alternative Energy Task Force: Final Draft Reportand Recommendations Resort Advisory Committee Briefing November 4, 2010 Clay Bernick City of Virginia Beach Environment & Sustainability Office

2. Mayoral Charge The purpose of the AETF was explained in Mayor Sessoms’ April 28, 2009 letter to the City Council – • to “analyze the current reality of energy demand in Virginia Beach and explore potential sources of supply to satisfy that demand”; • to “consider how those possible supply sources might impact our community both economically and environmentally”; • to “look forward in time to identify areas where supply may not keep pace with demand”; • to “develop potential options to close that gap as well as to reduce our dependence on foreign sources” thorough identifying future sources which “must be environmentally sustainable and independent of foreign sources”; and • to “ideally and proactively position Virginia Beach to be an active leader in the essential movement toward a more sustainable and intelligent energy future for our nation, commonwealth and community”

3. Task Force Process • Briefings – June through October 2009 • Public Hearing – October 26, 2009 • Subcommittee Convened to Draft Report – December 2009 • Draft Report under Development – January 2010 – April 2010 • Task Force Review of Draft Report – April 2010 – August 2010 • City Council Briefing on Final Report – September 7, 2010 • City Council Action – Fall 2010

4. Task Force Goals • 1 -Increase energy independence, with an emphasis on conservation and clean fuel technologies. • 2 -Reduce current municipal government energy consumption by fifteen percent by 2025. • 3 -Expand residential/business energy education to overcome barriers to implementing energy-efficiency and conservation actions. • 4 -Reduce greenhouse gas emissions by thirty percent by 2025. • 5 -Capitalize on economic development opportunities through business expansion and increased research and development in areas of strength, including alternative energy development. • 6 –Increase indigenous energy production in the City by twenty percent by 2025.

5. What is Alternative Energy? For purposes of report, energy that is: • derived from non-fossil fuel origins and that is renewable and/or sustainable (such as wind, solar, geothermal, biological or hydrologic resources), or • Replaces gasoline and diesel fuel in vehicles with natural gas, biofuels, electricity or hydrogen fuel cells • The US Department of Energy defines renewable energy as: “electric energy generated from solar, wind, biomass, landfill gas, ocean (including tidal, wave, current, and thermal), geothermal, municipal solid waste, or new hydroelectric generation capacity achieved from increased efficiency or additions of new capacity at an existing hydroelectric project.”

6. Recommended Overall City Policy “Three-Legged Stool Approach” to be Pursued Simultaneously: • 1- Transitional Development & Prudent Use of Traditional Energy Sources • 2- Aggressive Support for Energy Conservation and Retrofits to Optimize Efficiency • 3- Sustainable Development & Use of Renewable Energy Sources

7. Leg One - Transitional • Nuclear • Support Dominion pursuing North Anna expansion • Maintain moratorium on uranium mining in Roanoke River watershed • City needs to address possible implications should development of plants or mining take place • Water quality

8. Leg One - Transitional • Coal • Support research and development of clean coal technologies • Do not support development of proposed Dendron Coal Plant in Surry County • City needs to address possible implications should development of Dendron plant takes place • Economic development • Transportation funding • Air quality • Water quality

9. Leg One - Transitional • Offshore Oil & Natural Gas • Recommend oil and natural gas exploration only on strict non-interference with DOD and NASA operations and after federal regulatory policies, drilling and production technology, and oil spill response capability upgrades • Recommend exploration only after full federal and state review documents no possibility of major or recurring minor spills having a negative environmental or visual impact on tourism, outdoor recreation, and commercial and sports fisheries • City needs to address possible implications should development of offshore fields take place • Land use • Water quality • Economic development – military, tourism, regional economy • Air quality

10. Leg Two - Conservation • Supports both a City organization and community focused strategy, including regional initiatives and partnerships between local governments, military, businesses, residents, energy suppliers and private industry • Requires the development of effective communication strategies to accomplish optimum energy efficiency • Retrofit programs and development of incentives, recognition programs, collection of data to establish metrics to gauge success, reallocation of City resources to aggressively drive programs • Modify transportation and land use policies as needed • Undertaking carbon footprint analyses

11. Leg Two - Conservation • City Organization • Buildings • Vehicles • DOE EECBG and LEP Grant Awards • Methods • Lighting • Windows • Education & Awareness • Hybrids • HVAC • Land Use and Transportation Studies • Data Collection • Reallocate City Staff Resources to Aggressively Drive City Programs

12. Leg Two - Conservation • Community-Wide • Residents • Businesses • Military • Methods • Education & Awareness • Incentives & Recognition • Land Use and Transportation Studies • Recycling Studies • Data Collection • Reallocate City Staff Resources to Aggressively Drive City Programs

13. Leg Two - Conservation • Regional • Cities • Military • Business Community • Methods • Transportation Policies • Land Use Policies • Carbon Footprint Analysis • Education & Awareness

14. Leg Three - Sustainable • Support strategy to fully research, promote and develop renewable energy resources in the City • Solar • Wind - Onshore & Offshore • Biomass & Municipal Solid Waste • Landfill Gas • Ocean & Bay – Tidal, Wave, Current & Thermal • Geothermal

15. Leg Three - Sustainable • Solar • Economic development opportunities being pursued in City and region • Workforce training and development opportunities • City needs to aggressively pursue and support these efforts through • Land use policies • Economic development incentives and regional partnerships • City procurement and new projects requirements • K-12 and college education and training support and program development

16. Leg Three - Sustainable • Wind • City onshore wind ordinance in place; projects under development • City strong support for offshore wind development in place (VCERC, VOW, MMS, etc.) • Workforce training and development opportunities • Economic development opportunities being pursued in City and region • City needs to continue its aggressive pursuit and support of these efforts through • Land use planning for onshore support components • Pursuing resolution of issues with military • K-12 and college education and training support and program development

17. Leg Three - Sustainable • Biomass & Municipal Solid Waste • City studying biomass / composting facility to extend landfill life and generate energy • ODU pursuing relocation of Hopewell algae biodiesel research facility to City • City needs to continue its aggressive pursuit and support of these efforts through • Land use planning for location requirements • Education and training support and program development

18. Leg Three - Sustainable • Landfill Gas • City currently vents and burns methane from City landfill • Private landfill methane disposition unknown • City is pursuing research and opportunities to better utilize this resource for municipal and private sources

19. Leg Three - Sustainable • Ocean & Bay – Tidal, Wave, Current & Thermal • VCERC pursuing research opportunities to develop and utilize offshore resources • City should explore opportunities for development and utilization of nearshore resources

20. Leg Three - Sustainable • Geothermal • City schools showing significant benefits through demonstration project at Providence Elementary (80% overall energy usage reductions) • Geology of City affords significant opportunities to reduce City, commercial and residential heating and cooling costs • City needs to aggressively pursue and support these efforts through • Land use policies • Economic development incentives and regional partnerships • City procurement and new projects requirements

21. Procedural Recommendations • Develop a City Council appointed Energy Advisory Committee comprised of Community representatives reporting to City Council to: • Work with Staff and Industry partners through the Joint Energy Committee and others to implement and track City progress on meeting the recommendations of the Task Force report • Advise City Council on annual basis regarding progress towards achieving Task Force report goals and actions • Track federal, state and local energy policy that may impact the City • Periodically recommend updates to the Task Force report • Conduct Energy SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats) Analysis for the City • Recommend to City Council an overall energy organization administration structure for the City

22. Procedural Recommendations • Reconsider the City’s current resolution in support of the development of offshore drilling to recommend exploration only be considered to: • assure non-interference with DOD and NASA operations and commercial shipping • upgrade Federal regulatory policies, drilling and production technology, and oil spill response capabilities • pursue assurances that there is no possibility either a major spill or recurring small spills having a negative impact on our critically important tourism, outdoor recreation, and commercial and sport fishing industries will occur

23. Procedural Recommendations • Provide regional leadership and work with region's localities and HRPDC to develop a position of opposition to the proposed Dendron Coal Plant in Surry County • Reaffirm the City’s resolution opposing uranium mining and encourage other Hampton Roads communities to adopt similar resolutions to retain the moratorium until current State and City studies have been completed and it is determined mining can be safely pursued in the Commonwealth

24. Procedural Recommendations • Work to accomplish Task Force goals and actions by promoting and expanding partnerships, including: • Local energy providers – Dominion Virginia Power, Virginia Natural Gas • Regional partnerships – other communities, HRPDC, Green Jobs Alliance, Virginia Offshore Wind • Purchasing partnerships – Virginia Energy Purchasing Governmental Association • State programs – Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy, Center for Innovative Technology • U.S. Green Building Council, Energy Star Program, ICLEI (ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability)

25. Next Steps • Formal adoption of Task Force Report as foundation for City’s Energy Policy • Appoint Energy Advisory Committee • Amend offshore drilling policy • Reaffirm uranium mining moratorium resolution • Work at regional level to encourage adoption of Dendron Coal Plant opposition resolution

26. Questions?