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TO: Mayor Richard C. Irvin
FROM: Alex Minnella, Planner
DATE: April 15, 2020
SUBJECT:
A Resolution Authorizing the Green Power Partnership Agreement, a voluntary program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that assists organizations with procuring electricity generated from renewable resources and promoting their green power leadership. (20-0250 / KDWK-20.071-MISC - AM)
PURPOSE:
To partner with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to reduce the risk of climate change while supporting the development of new, renewable energy in the United States.
BACKGROUND:
Aurora is recognized as an environmental leader in the State, receiving honors such as the Clean Air Counts Platinum Award, Illinois EPA Green Fleet designation, and the Arbor Day Foundation's Tree City USA designation.
Wind, solar and geothermal power all are part of the City’s sustainability efforts. The City incorporate sustainability and energy efficiency in all of community initiatives, community development and land use, transportation and infrastructure, water quality and conservation, education and engagement.
In late 2019, the Aurora City Council approved an agreement with the Progressive Energy Group, an energy services consultant, to make the community 100% energy renewable.
The City has been focused on sustainability for years, and has seen economic benefits, environmental improvements and savings of resources as a result.
Most importantly, even more so than the commitment of City government, is the commitment of our residents to improve the local environment.
The Green Power Partnership is a voluntary program that encourages organizations to use green power as a way to reduce the environmental impacts associated with conventional electricity use.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) established the Green Power Partnership (GPP) in 2001 to protect human health and the environment by increasing organizations’ voluntary green power use to advance the American market for green power and the development of those renewable electricity sources. The Green Power Partnership helps to achieve Clean Air Act requirements by reducing the pollution and the corresponding negative health and environmental impacts associated with conventional electricity use. Since the inception of the Green Power Partnership, the voluntary market has grown by nearly 5,000 percent. The program provides a framework that includes credible usage benchmarks, market information, technical assistance, and public recognition to companies and other organizations that use green power. In return for technical assistance and recognition, Partners commit to use green power for all, or a portion, of their annual electricity consumption.
Since its inception with 21 founding Partners, GPP has realized more than 11,000 percent growth in Partners’ green power use; its Partners currently use enough renewable electricity to power more than 3.3 million average American homes for a year (year-end 2016 data).
DISCUSSION:
By joining EPA’s Green Power Partnership, Partners commit to:
- Use green power that meets or exceeds Partnership requirements.
- Report on green power use annually.
- Use the Green Power Partner mark in a manner that is consistent with Partner mark use
guidelines, available at www.epa.gov/greenpower/green-power-partner-mark-use-and- <http://www.epa.gov/greenpower/green-power-partner-mark-use-and->
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In return, EPA commits to:
- Provide public recognition.
- Provide procurement and communications assistance, as requested by Partner.
- Provide a brief description of the Partner’s green power commitment on the Green Power
Partnership website.
It is important to know that the general terms of such agreement prescribe the followings:
Either party can terminate this agreement at any time without prior notification or penalties
and with no further obligation. EPA will not comment publicly regarding the withdrawal of
Partners.
- Partner agrees that the activities it undertakes connected with this voluntary agreement are not intended to provide services to the federal government and that the Partner will not seek compensation from a federal agency.
- Partner agrees that it will not claim or imply that its participation in the Green Power Partnership constitutes EPA approval or endorsement of anything other than its participation in the program and will not make statements or imply that EPA endorses the purchase or sale of the Partner’s products and services or the views of the Partner organization.
- EPA may post and/or share information about the Partner’s green power use publicly.
- EPA may periodically revise program benchmark levels or other eligibility requirements.
IMPACT STATEMENT:
The Green Power Partnership helps to achieve Clean Air Act requirements by reducing the pollution and the corresponding negative health and environmental impacts associated with conventional electricity use.
The partnership agreement does not entail any financial commitment.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
Staff recommends approval of the Resolution authorizing the Green Power Partnership Agreement.
cc: Finance Committee
Alderman Robert O’Connor, Chairperson
Alderman Edward J. Bugg, Vice Chairperson
Alderman Carl Franco
Alderwoman Scheketa Hart-Burns
Alderman Emmanuel Llamas
CITY OF AURORA, ILLINOIS
RESOLUTION NO. _________
DATE OF PASSAGE ________________
title
A Resolution Authorizing the Green Power Partnership Agreement, a voluntary program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that assists organizations with procuring electricity generated from renewable resources and promoting their green power leadership.
body
WHEREAS, the City of Aurora has a population of more than 25,000 persons and is, therefore, a home rule unit under subsection (a) of Section 6 of Article VII of the Illinois Constitution of 1970; and
WHEREAS, subject to said Section, a home rule unit may exercise any power and perform any function pertaining to its government and affairs for the protection of the public health, safety, morals, and welfare; and
WHEREAS, the City, through the efforts of staff, the Progressive Energy Group, the Mayor's Sustainable Aurora Advisory board has completed an inventory of government and community emissions and baseline energy use; and
WHEREAS, the Green Power Community Partnership Agreement is an EPA-sponsored program that provides municipalities with an opportunity to become Green Power
Partners by purchasing Renewable Energy Certificates and/or by installing onsite renewable energy sources and then challenging local businesses and residents to likewise consume energy from renewable sources; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Aurora, Illinois, as follows: authorizing the execution of a Green Power Partnership Agreement with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to assist with procuring electricity generated from renewable resources and promoting green power leadership.