Community Energy Planning Guide

Executive Summary - (Developing the Factor -2 Community)

Factor-2 means a factor of 2. It means 50%. It means developing a community that is 50% less dependent on fossil fuels and it need not be a dream of the future. Technologies exist today that significantly reduce the impact on the community of the fossil-fuel marketplace, but too often these approaches are discounted. Critics cite "too long a payback" or claim that they are “not standard practice” and should therefore be rejected. Proof exists that advanced street design can reduce underground infrastructure by 33%, that the elimination of suburban developments decreases transportation needs by up to 40%, that renewable energy technologies improve air quality, and that Combined Heat and Power or District Energy reduces emissions by 35%. Large-scale integration of these practices can reduce a community’s environmental impact by 30–40%. A community energy plan as described in this guide positions these technologies and changes as a roadmap, heading the community towards its sustainability goal.

Energy in all its forms is a principal component in any activity, food, or textile performed or consumed within a community. It is, without doubt, the community’s greatest expenditure, and the degree to which we manage our energy supply and demand dictates the quality of life within our communities. Every dollar spent on energy, directly or indirectly, is a dollar that cannot be invested in the community, a dollar that cannot raise the capacity of the community and cannot increase the competitiveness of the local economy and its ability to grow the community.

Managing energy does not mean cutting back, nor does it mean reducing your community’s standard of living. Rather, it means gaining an understanding of the role of energy within the community, where the energy originates, and how best to supply and use it. A core element in the community energy plan is the reduction in use of fossil fuels by their replacement with renewable or local energy sources. This action creates significant autonomy within the community and retains earned income. It is fact that only when the local economy thrives can the national economy truly succeed.