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Submit Public Comments to the North Carolina Utilities Commission Concerning Duke Energy’s 2020 Integrated Resource Plan.
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Staff: |
Department: |
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Maurice Jones, Town Manager |
Manager’s Office |
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John Richardson, Community Resilience Officer |
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Overview: Duke Energy has submitted an Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) for the North Carolina Utilities Commission’s (NCUC) review and approval. The 2020 IRP <https://www.duke-energy.com/Our-Company/IRP> communicates strategies for providing reliable electricity at the lowest cost over a 15-year time period. This review process is an opportunity for the Town of Chapel Hill to join with other North Carolina communities to share our climate action goals and communicate how the IRP can best support them. The comments in the attached letter were drafted alongside other North Carolina local governments in addition to those that are listed by name as possible signatories. As proposed, the joint letter is a collective effort to advance our governments’ renewable energy and greenhouse gas reduction targets.
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Recommendation(s): |
That the Mayor, on behalf of the Town Council, signs the attached letter to submit public comments to the North Carolina Utilities Commission concerning Duke Energy’s 2020 Integrated Resource Plan.
Background:
• Duke Energy submits an IRP every two years. This is the first IRP that has been published since the Town adopted a 100% clean, renewable energy goal <https://chapelhill.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?GUID=C84850B1-0266-437F-AE4F-0BEC1DF63B37&ID=4143409&Options=&Search=> in 2019. The IRP presents a variety of potential pathways to “greening the grid”, which is one of the key carbon reduction action categories in the Town’s draft Climate Action and Response Plan <https://www.sustainchapelhill.org/featured/2020/2/18/climate-action-and-response-plan>.
• By commenting on the IRP, the Town has an opportunity to advocate for bringing more renewable energy to our electricity grid. We also have the chance to highlight the need for more support with local energy efficiency programming and electric vehicle infrastructure - two other important action categories identified within the draft plan.
• Because this is a shared interest among cities and counties in our area and across the state, with the Council’s approval, our plan is to jointly submit comments by no later than February 26, 2021.
• The highlighted information shown within the attached letter will be finalized once all of the named communities have had an opportunity to review it and make a decision. On January 21, 2021, the Town of Boone approved the draft letter, as written, and will be an official signatory.
• Specific actions that support Town goals include: retiring coal power plants as soon as possible to lower emissions; requiring “all-source procurement” as a way for renewable energy resources to compete head-to-head with fossil fuel options; expanding energy efficiency programs to lower emissions and increase bill affordability; and increasing electric vehicle offerings that support a transition to cleaner transportation options.
Fiscal Impact/Resources: There are no direct fiscal impacts associated with the recommendation above.
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Attachments: |
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• Resolution |
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• Draft Letter |
A RESOLUTION TO SUBMIT PUBLIC COMMENTS TO THE NORTH CAROLINA UTILITIES COMMISSION CONCERNING DUKE ENERGY’S 2020 INTEGRATED RESOURCE PLAN (2021-01-27/R-2)
WHEREAS, on June 12, 2017, the Town Council adopted a resolution to proportionally uphold the commitment made by the United States in the Paris Agreement by reducing emissions by 26-28% by 2025; and
WHEREAS, on September 25, 2019, Town Council adopted a resolution to be a 100% clean, renewable energy community by 2050 and to create a Climate Action and Response Plan to begin transitioning to this new clean energy goal; and
WHEREAS, the Town of Chapel Hill’s draft Climate Action and Response Plan identifies key carbon emissions reduction action categories like greening the grid, green building retrofits and electric vehicles; and
WHEREAS, participating in the North Carolina Utilities Commission review process is as an opportunity for the Town of Chapel Hill to join with other North Carolina communities to share our adopted climate action goals and communicate how the 2020 IRP can best support them.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the Town of Chapel Hill that the Mayor, on behalf of the Town Council, signs the attached letter to submit public comments to the North Carolina Utilities Commission concerning Duke Energy’s 2020 Integrated Resource Plan
This the 27th day of January, 2021.
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The Agenda will reflect the text below and/or the motion text will be used during the meeting. |
presenter
By adopting the resolution, the Mayor, on behalf of the Town Council, would sign the attached letter to submit public comments to the North Carolina Utilities Commission concerning Duke Energy’s 2020 Integrated Resource Plan.