A presentation on Energy Planning efforts in Delaware County for planning professionals.

1. Making Energy
Planning Work
Delaware County’s Perspective
Justin Dula, AICP
Delaware County Planning Department
County & Regional Planning Section
March 29, 2012

2. County Role in Energy Planning
STRENGTHS CHALLENGES
 Opportunity for guidance  Lack of authority to
and “leading by example” mandate changes on the
 Greater resources and local level
broader view than  Fewer resources and less
municipalities specialized expertise
 Interaction with both compared to regional
municipalities and the entities and the private
private sector sector
 Local knowledge of  Greater responsibility to
communities constituents and elected
 Less restricted by specific officials
political concerns and day  Less policy directed than
to day operations State and Region

3. Delaware County Planning Efforts
 Experience with Energy Projects & Planning
 Before Planning
 Staff Time Only Planning
 Federally Funded Projects
 Learning from Our Experiences
 Project Influences
 Lessons Learned
 Maintaining Interest
 What Is Next

4. Energy Work Started Before Planning
 Initial steps
 Being done
piecemeal by
Public Works,
Buildings and
Maintenance,
and other
Departments.
 Solar Panel
Demonstration Guaranteed Energy Savings Act
Project ESCO on Courthouse &
 Hybrid Vehicles Government Center, Fair Acres
Source: Delaware County

5. Delaware County’s Energy Planning
Efforts: Where it All Began…
 Municipalities
Planning Code:
 “To promote energy
conservation and the
effective utilization of
renewable energy
sources, the
 Council appointed energy
comprehensive plan
experts from throughout the
may include an energy
County
conservation plan
 2008 – Council-appointed element…”
Energy and Environmental
Advisory Board (EEAB) formed Source: Delaware County

6. EEAB Results
 Focused on easily
implementable low
cost to no cost
items
 Focused on County
Facilities &
assisting the
County Community
 Matrix of projects,
cost, and time for
implementation
 Some projects Source: Delaware County
were implemented

7. 2009 Energy Action Agenda DRAFT Delaware County,
PA
Grant?
Committee Initiative Focus Area Priority Cost Impact Timeframe Partners
Land Use Sustainable Incorporate Sustainable County H L M I,S
Projects Development development principles into Government - -
the County's Subdivision and
Land Development Ordinance
(SALDO)
Incorporate Sustainable County H L M I, S
development principles into Government - -
the County Comprehensive
Plan
Include Transit Oriented County H L M I
Development principles in the Government - -
County's SALDO
Incorporate Sustainable County H L M S
developement principles into Government - -
the County's Revitalization
Program
Energy Include "green" elements in County H L M S
Efficient existing County Government - -
Development redevelopment grant programs
Incentives
Provide discounted County County H L M I
assistance for zoning Government - -
ordinances that include TOD
or sustainable development
principles
Green Develop model County green County H L M S
Building building standards Government - -
Support and promote the principles of the County H L M I
County's Bike Plan Government - -
Initiate tree planting program on County County H L,M H I, S
properties Government - -
Source: Delaware County

8. DelCo EECBG Projects
 Energy Efficiency & Conservation Block Grants
(EECBG) Granted by the DOE - 2009 Recovery
Act
 Delaware County Allocation = $3.66 million
 Unique opportunity, but also wanted to avoid
continuing costs
 GESA program already completed, so looking to
fill in the gaps left
 Mix of implementation with some planning
projects

9. DelCo EECBG Projects
 Solar Panel installation on
County Buildings
 Public Works, Buildings and
Maintenance
 $1,400,851
 Prison Energy Audit and
Improvements
 Public Works, Prison Board
 $817,640
 Transportation Incentives
 Personnel, Transportation
Management Association
 $102,840
 Municipal Grant Program
 Conservation Plan and
Action Strategy
Source: Delaware County

10. Source: Practical Energy Solutions

11. Municipal Energy Efficiency Grant
Program - Overview
 $873,088 Budgeted
 Distributed to 46 municipalities that have not
received EECBG formula funding, 35
municipalities participated.
 Initial offering: $15,000 per municipality, but was
increased to $22,200 given participation in the
program.
 County Council wanted flexibility in the program
to all eligible projects.
 Prescriptive & Custom measures
 Feeding into overall Energy Plan and Action
Strategy
 Municipalities met meeting with consultants to
identify projects.

12. Project Break Down Estimates
 Interior lighting/delamping: 31%
 Replacement HVAC units: 19%*
 Thermal controls (central or programmable)/rezoning: 14%
 Occupancy/day lighting sensors for lighting: 8%
 Exterior lighting: 6%
 Street lighting: 6%
 Building envelope (windows, weather stripping): 6%
 Unit heater replacements (public works, firehouses): 5%
 LED traffic lights: 2.5%
 Wastewater treatment pump upgrades: 2.5%
*Unit heater replacements counted separately
Source: Delaware County

13. Conservation Plan & Action Strategy -
Overview
 $473,881 Budgeted
 Two parts which provide framework for
existing and future projects
 Energy Plan for the greater County community
including municipalities
 Action Strategy for County owned facilities
 Early implementation items also included
 Incorporating information gathered during
the grant program

14. Energy Plan & Action Strategy
Implementation
 Laundry Press at Fair
Acres.
 Operational and
Capital Needs
Assessments
 Green Ribbon
Committee E lec tric ity C ons umption in D elaware C ounty
1%
 Energy Tracking and 37% R es idential
Reporting Tools
44% C ommerc ial
Indus trial
Mobile-Trans it
 Transportation 18%
Incentives Source: Practical Energy Solutions

15. Delaware County Planning Efforts
 Experience with Energy Projects & Planning
 Before Planning
 Staff Time Only Planning
 Federally Funded Projects
 Learning from Our Experiences
 Project Influences
 Lessons Learned
 Maintaining Interest
 What Is Next

16. Influences on Our Projects
 Elected official
leadership
 Visible projects for
constituents
 Financial constraints
 Municipal needs
 Federal funding
requirements
 Private sector expertise
 Marketing and toolbox
approach Source: Delaware County

17. Lessons – Partner
 Internally
 Get an elected official champion behind the planning process
 Internal focus on key departments (Public Works, Buildings and
Maintenance) leaves out planning
 Departments brought in later had useful input that should have been
incorporated at the outset
 Municipalities
 Programs on the County level have to meet their needs
 Finding the right people at municipalities takes time
 Expertise
 Make the case for outside expertise early on
 Private sector or specialized staff will be needed
 Regionally
 Avoid duplication of efforts that are similar through larger areas
 Showcase model local communities to make regional efforts more
locally accepted

18. Lessons – Work With Strengths
 Keep it positive for the county community
 County level is all carrots, no sticks so
encouragement is our only tool
 Showcase model local communities and let them be
the example
 Work to leverage regional resources
 Be a clearinghouse for local knowledge and
experience
 Lead by example
 Highlight your projects to municipalities and the
greater community
 Try to be honest and include learning experiences as
well

19. Planning Gets Results
 Gather and integrate background data
 Build on successes
 Market results and efforts
 Prioritize future improvements Source: Practical Energy Solutions

20. What’s Next
 Implementing action strategy for
County facilities
 Back to easily implementable
items, low cost items with the end
of EECBG funds
 Increased energy awareness in
several County Departments,
chance to explore policy changes
 Working on regional efforts and
model zoning. Partnering with
DVRPC and GPIC
Source: Delaware County

21. Contacts – Delaware County
General Environmental and Energy Initiatives
e: GreenCounty@co.delaware.pa.us
w: http://www.co.delaware.pa.us/green/
Justin Dula, AICP Rebecca Ross, AICP
Manager, County and Regional Planning Principal Planner, County & Regional Planning
p: (610) 891-5219 p: (610) 891-5025
e: dulaj@co.delaware.pa.us e: rossr@co.delaware.pa.us
Delaware County Planning Department
201 West Front Street
Media, PA 19063-2708
f: (610) 891-5203
w: http://www.co.delaware.pa.us/planning