6.1. ECCSR 02-19-2014 EXECUTIVE SUM MARY
Energy City Action Plan
Our goal is to make Elk River the most energy responsible city in Minnesota
Ambitious, necessary, and possible—this is the Energy City Action Plan for the City of Elk River. This plan
outlines the steps toward realizing a healthy, prosperous and sustainable future for our city. It
challenges residents, business, and city leaders to create a better future for the next generation.
This plan sets out a clear vision of that future,with concrete targets and the steps and metrics required
to achieve each one of them. Between now and 2024 there will be much to learn and accomplish to
achieve our goal of making Elk River the most energy responsible city in Minnesota. But the Energy City
Commission has little doubt that the results will improve our quality of life and make us even more
competitive in the future economy,while enabling us to live a better balance with Earth's natural
systems,truly being Powered by Nature.
The Energy City Action Plan is divided into 7 smaller plans each with identifiable goals. Together,these 7
plans address three areas of focus: carbon, waste, and ecosystem.
Summaries of each plan are provided in the following pages, highlighting targets,and the strategies to
accomplish the goals.
City of Elk River — Energy City 2024
Action Plan
GOAL 1 - PROMOTE THE CITY OF ELK RIVER
Targets:
A. Communicate Elk River as center for"Green" and "Lean" manufacturing.
B. Develop and maintain City's reputation as supportive of Green Building practices.
C. Advocate appropriate changes to regulatory framework to incentivize green building.
D. Reinvest in the natural environment that characterizes the City of Elk River
Highest Priority Actions:
1. Encourage expansion of green space through regulatory incentives.
2. Develop partnerships with area agencies and community organizations to to plant 100,000 trees
and 10 acres of native vegetation throughout the city by 2024.
3. Deliver a business engagement program.This program can help Elk River businesses make
measurable improvements to their environmental performance and improve productivity and
competitiveness.
4. Identify prime vegetative communities(woodland stands. Prairie areas,vistas,etc), establish
programs to encourage the retention of same.
5. Identify and promote local sources of energy efficient building materials to reduce energy used
for transportation and stimulate the local economy.
6. Support local and State energy related incentive programs and EDA energy-efficient microloan
programs.
GOAL 2 - ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Targets:
A. Increase by 10 the number of Green Collar jobs by 2024. Green collar jobs shall be as
those consistent with the definition of the United Nations Environment Program: "work
in agricultural, manufacturing, research and development (R&D), administrative, and
service activities that contribute(s) substantially to preserving or restoring
environmental quality. Specifically, but not exclusively, this includes jobs that help to
protect ecosystems and biodiversity; reduce energy, materials, and water consumption
through high efficiency strategies; de-carbonize the economy; and minimize or
altogether avoid generation of all forms of waste and pollution."
B. Increase by 10 the number of companies that are actively engaged in greening their
operations.
C. Objectively analyze the energy component of building materials, practices, and
technologies and promote those that are cost effective in reducing energy consumption
and pollutants and are,therefore, sustainable; as long as they do not have negative
effects on the healthiness of a building or its' longevity.
Highest Priority Actions:
1. Develop city policy on acceptable standards and systems.
2. Develop a microloan program to encourage green collar jobs.
GOAL 3 -SHOWCASE IDEAS
Targets:
A. Promote and utilize sustainable Green building techniques and materials.
B. Advocate for more Extended Producer Responsibility programs for packaging and more.
Through research and advocacy,the City will encourage the companies to take responsibility for
recycling the products and packaging they put on the market.
C. Identify and promote alternative utility sources.
Highest Priority Actions
1. Explore neighborhood energy systems
a. PV system
b. Water Collection system
2. Explore District Heating System
3. Develop a building deconstruction program.This action focuses on policies to prevent wood and
other materials from being sent to the landfill or incinerator through a process that takes apart
buildings and salvages materials, rather than a traditional demolition method.
GOAL 4- PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT
Targets:
A. Develop education and enforcement programs to keep recyclables out of the waste stream.
This action builds on existing regulations to keep glass, metals, paper, and some plastics from
the City's garbage collection. It includes tactics to raise awareness about the importance of
waste reduction and recycling,community-based social marketing to overcome barriers,
cooperation with community groups, and enforcement of disposal bans at the household and
business level.
B. Educate builders,owners,and the general public on the cost saving and energy reduction of
recycling building materials and demolition debris.
C. Develop and implement enhanced water education,incentive,and conservation programs.
Highest Priority Actions:
1. Support transportation and active transportation planning.
2. Reduce waste matter that pollutes water, air, and soil within the city.
3. Expand the food scraps composting program for residents.This action includes collecting all
food scraps from single-family homes and piloting food scraps collection programs in
apartments.