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A Green Midwest, A Blue Midwest Globalization and the Midwest Conference

A Green Midwest, A Blue Midwest Globalization and the Midwest Conference. Bill Abolt, LEED AP November 9, 2009 Shaw Environmental & Infrastructure Group. Recent Energy and Sustainability Experience. 2. Sustainability – Energy, Water & Climate .

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A Green Midwest, A Blue Midwest Globalization and the Midwest Conference

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  1. A Green Midwest, A Blue MidwestGlobalization and the Midwest Conference Bill Abolt, LEED AP November 9, 2009 Shaw Environmental & Infrastructure Group

  2. Recent Energy and Sustainability Experience 2

  3. Sustainability – Energy, Water & Climate • Sustainability is about making decisions that benefit the bottom line, the community and the environment • Sustainability doesn’t shortchange the future. • Sustainability is integrated solutions that solve real problems • Sustainability solutions define even some of the biggest obstacles as resources • Sustainability optimizes those resources and deploys them to create lasting economic, environmental and community value

  4. Obstacles to Integrated, Sustainable Solutions • Funding and regulatory schemes do not necessarily support integrated, sustainable solutions • Splintered regulatory schemes • Split incentives • Capital vs. operating budgets • High transaction costs for early adopters • More needs to be done to recognize, quantify and realize the specific values that are created by sustainable development • Greenhouse Gas Reductions • Energy and Water Conservation

  5. Leaders in Sustainability Energy, Water & Climate Projects • Rooftops to Rivers Strategies in Aurora, IL • Missouri DNR Energy Conservation Block Grant • Metropolitan Mayors Caucus Advanced Codes and Water/Energy Initiatives • ComEd Community Energy Challenge

  6. Rooftops to Rivers Strategies in Aurora. IL • 2nd most populous city in Illinois • Green Infrastructure solutions support the City’s sustainable development goals and strategies • Green Infrastructure solutions have leveraged support and created partnerships • Illinois EPA • Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) • USEPA • Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning • Targets energy reductions along with water improvements

  7. Missouri DNR Energy Conservation Block Grant • Water, Energy and Climate • Approximately 3% of U.S. energy usage comes from water and wastewater treatment • Water and wastewater treatment typically represents over 50% of city/county electricity budgets • By focusing on this sector, significant energy savings and reduced emissions can be obtained • Projects have a typical payback of < 4 years • Missouri EECBG program targets energy and water saving projects in facilities across the state

  8. Metropolitan Mayors Caucus Advanced Codes and Water/Energy Initiatives High performing codes Up to date Understood Enforced Mayors Caucus sees codes as a key tool in achieving sustainability goals

  9. Metropolitan Mayors Caucus Advanced Codes and Water/Energy Initiatives • Partnership with NRDC • Recognizes the financial and regulatory barriers to water and energy conservation in existing, codes, utility rate structures and programs • Targets technical assistance to decouple utility rates and charges and reform infrastructure finance

  10. ComEd Community Energy Challenge • Innovative Partnership • Created in 2009 by ComEd • Chicago Area’s 10 Greenest Communities • Competing to • Reduce energy and greenhouse gases • Save water • Achieve community-wide sustainability goals • 10 Plans submitted • Estimated kWh Savings 43,601,384 • Estimated Avoided MTCO2e Emissions 31,312 • Over $4M of utility and state incentives and grants pledged to support implementation

  11. Issues to Address • Recognize where we are starting from • Transaction Costs and Learning Curve • Regulatory, Technology and Market Infrastructure Gaps • Standardization of approaches • Move from pilots to practice • Regulatory design that supports sustainability • Don’t over-promise • Don’t make it more trouble than it’s worth • Measurement and verification of results

  12. Questions? Shaw Environmental & Infrastructure, Inc. Bill Abolt (312) 499-3525 bill.abolt@shawgrp.com

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