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OHKOH
City of Oshkosh - Department of Community Development ON THE WATER
215 Church Avenue Oshkosh, WI 54903 (920) 236-5059 (920) 236-5053 fax
MEMORANDUM
TO: Jackson Kinney, Director of Community Development
FROM: Darryn Burich, Planning Director Q~~~~
Susan Kepplinger, Principal Planner
DATE: November 24, 2008
RE: Grants for EI Community 25X2025 Plan
The City received information from the Wisconsin Office of Energy Independence on a special
grant program that would provide funds to 5-10 communities who would serve as pilot
communities in the preparation of a 25% by 2025 Plan. The Plan would have as its focus the
replacement of current electricity and transportation energy use with 25% renewable resources by
2025.
You asked that we review the grant program to determine whether it would make sense to seek
these funds at this time, or wait until the communiiy is further along with some of its initial
planning work.
In looking at the technical requirements in the application guidelines, a key element is that
"Annlicants must demonstrate existin~ ener~v conservation, ener~v efficiencv, and renewal
ener~y efforts." While these are very important goals and actions to strive for, and we believe
proposed planning efforts will help the City move in that direction, the City does not currently
have a sufficient level of information and/or actions to point to in these areas. Thus, an
application by the City would certainly be much weaker than for communities who have taken
identifiable steps to date.
As noted, an important aspect of the grant program is creating pilot communities that have not
only taken steps in energy conservation, energy efficiency and in renewable energy, but whose
efforts and the work they would do under the program could be utilized by other communities in
the State in pursuing similar efforts. Rather than possibly taking funds away from other
communities who have been able to do more on this front to date, it would seem more
appropriate for Oshkosh to stay abreast of the pilot program, learn from the program, and then
possibly seek funds when we can be more competitive.
Special Grant Pgm Memo
12/1/08 Meeting
Another issue that we need to be cognizant of is the time and resources that would need to be
devoted to a pilot program, especially in light of what would appear to be a higher and more
immediate priority - namely moving forward with the planning process that will hopefully lead
to the eventual adoption of a Community Sustainability Plan. In looking at the application
material for the grant program, it can be seen that this would take significant staff time to pursue,
and that could be at the expense of the proposed Community Sustainability Plan.
It's also important to recognize that the grant program is to lead to the adoption of a 25 by 2025
Plan, not just be engaged in data collection. Having work on the Community Sustainability Plan
start about the same time that work would need to commence on a 25 by 2025 Plan could create
confusion regarding these potentially simultaneous efforts.
In addition, City staff are currently having discussions with the University to determine how the
City could be involved in a potential grant request the University is considering in the energy
area. While this may take staff time, this would be a collaborative effort, where the City would
not be the lead entity.
Foregoing the submittal of a grant application at this time (and implementation of the pilot
program planning process in the unlikely event the City would receive a grant), will permit City
staff and the Working Committee to concentrate on development of the Community
Sustainability Plan and to consider undertaking other activities that would put the City in a better
position to apply for and receive funding in the future. Again, by waiting the City will benefit
from the experiences of the communities who are funded in 2009 as there is an emphasis on
reporting by funded communities.
Special Grant Pgm Memo
12/1/08 Meeting