Explanation
This legislation authorizes the Director of Public Utilities to accept the award of an EcoSmart Choice Sustainability Grant in the amount of $50,366.00 from American Municipal Power, Inc. (AMP) and authorizes the Department of Public Utilities to establish a residential energy efficiency pilot program for current Division of Power residential single family and multi-unit dwelling customers. The EcoSmart Choice Sustainability Grant program was instituted by AMP to return unused funds to participating members. Sustainability Grants are thus intended to recognize EcoSmart Choice participating communities that demonstrate a commitment to sustainability through the promotion of environmentally focused, community based grant projects.
As a part of the Bloomberg American Cities Climate Challenge (ACCC) grant, Columbus has a goal of conducting 30,000 audits by 2020 within the Columbus region. This goal involves a partnership between AEP, Columbia Gas, City of Columbus, and the Division of Power. The goal will help Columbus residents increase their home energy efficiency and save more on their utility bills. The Division of Power proposes to utilize the $50,366.00 in grant funds to 1) promote the use of AEP and Columbia Gas’s online home energy assessment platform that will allow our customers to answer questions and become more educated about their home energy usage, and 2) provide energy efficiency kits to each of our residential customers. The kits will be similar to AEP’s kits which include LED bulbs and a smart power strip. We will need to contract with a third party to purchase kit materials and to provide fulfilment/mailing of the kits. Energy efficiency kits will be direct shipped to all Division of Power residential customers who live in the ACCC target areas.
FISCAL IMPACT: There is no matching requirement for this grant. Up to $50,366.00 will be spent for the purchase and distribution of energy efficiency kits to Division of Power residential single family and multi-unit dwelling customers.
Title
To authorize the Director of Public Utilities to accept the award of an EcoSmart Choice Sustainability Grant in the amount of $50,366.00 from American Municipal Power, Inc. (AMP); to authorize the Director of Public Utilities to establish a Residential Energy Efficiency pilot program; and to authorize the appropriation and expenditure of $50,366.00. ($50,366.00)
Body
WHEREAS, American Municipal Power, Inc. (AMP) has instituted the EcoSmart Choice Sustainability Grant program to return unused funds to participating members, and
WHEREAS, Sustainability Grants are intended to recognize EcoSmart Choice participating communities that demonstrate a commitment to sustainability through the promotion of environmentally focused, community based grant projects, and
WHEREAS, as a part of the Bloomberg American Cities Climate Challenge (ACCC) grant, Columbus has a goal of conducting 30,000 audits by 2020 within the Columbus region. This goal involves a partnership between AEP, Columbia Gas, City of Columbus, and the Division of Power. The goal will help Columbus residents increase their home energy efficiency and save more on their utility bills, and
WHEREAS, this program will serve Division of Power residential single family and multi-unit dwelling customers. Energy efficiency kits will be direct shipped to all Division of Power residential customers who live in the ACCC target areas, and
WHEREAS, the City of Columbus, Department of Public Utilities, Division of Power has been awarded an EcoSmart Choice Sustainability Grant in the amount of $50,366.00, and
WHEREAS, it is necessary to appropriate said funds to the Department of Public Utilities for expenditures, and
WHEREAS, it has become necessary in the usual daily operation of the Department of Public Utilities, Division of Power, to authorize the Director of Public Utilities to accept the award of an EcoSmart Choice Sustainability Grant in the amount of $50,366.00 from American Municipal Power, Inc. for the establishment of a Residential Energy Efficiency pilot program; now, therefore
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the Director of Public Utilities be and is hereby authorized to accept the award of an EcoSmart Choice Sustainability Grant in the amount of $50,366.00 from American Municipal Power, Inc.
SECTION 2. That from the unappropriated monies and from all monies estimated to come into the Private Grant Fund from any and all sources and unappropriated for any other purpose during the term of the grant, the sum of $50,366.00 is appropriated per the accounting codes in the attachment to this ordinance. Appropriation is effective upon receipt of the executed grant agreement.
SECTION 3. That the monies in the foregoing Section 2 shall be paid upon order of the Director of Public Utilities, and that no order shall be drawn or money paid except by voucher, the form of which shall be approved by the City Auditor.
SECTION 4. That the expenditure of $50,366.00 or so much thereof as may be needed, is hereby authorized to be expended per the funding attachment.
SECTION 5. That, at the end of the grant period, any repayment of unencumbered balances required by the grantor is hereby authorized and any unused City match monies may be transferred back to the City fund from which they originated in accordance with all applicable grant agreements.
SECTION 6. That the Director of the Department of Public Utilities (DPU) is hereby authorized to establish a Residential Energy Efficiency pilot program that will serve Division of Power residential single family and multi-unit dwelling customers.
SECTION 7. That the funds necessary to carry out the purpose of this ordinance are hereby deemed appropriated.
SECTION 8. That this Ordinance shall take effect and be in force from and after the earliest period allowed by law.