title
Follow-up on Long Term Electrical Supply Plan (NB)
explanation
Gainesville Regional Utilities began a community outreach program to develop a long term electrical energy plan in August of 2003, drawing on studies performed with City Commission authorization beginning September 2002. To date, there have been numerous community outreach meetings, presentations to civic, professional and other organizations, and City Commission Workshops and special meetings. The meeting November 15, 2004 was the third in a series of three special Commission meetings intended to summarize previous studies and follow-up from previous meetings. The focus of the first summary meeting September 30, 2004 was environmental studies, the focus of the second on November 1, 2004 was conservation and renewable energy, and the focus of the meeting November 15 2004 was an analysis of the financial aspects of the proposed plan and the adequacy of staff's evaluations to date.
At the November 15 meeting, City Commission heard a presentation from the Alachua County Environmental Protection Department, in response to a referral made September 30, 2004 to the Alachua Board of County Commissioners by the City Commission. Presentations were also made by the Alachua County Environmental Protection Advisory Committee (EPAC), an independent consultant, R.W.Beck. Comments about the long term electrical supply plan were made by members of the public at both the November 15 and 22 Commission meetings. Staff has developed a document containing responses to the questions, issues, recommendations and comments made in these presentations. Staff is also prepared to provide a brief presentation providing an overview of their responses, intended to be an introduction and a guide for subsequent detailed review by individual Commissioners.
recommendation
The City Commission receive a brief presentation summarizing the document prepared by staff to address questions and recommendations received during the November 15, 2004 special City Commission meeting on affordable long term electrical supply, including: 1) A report entitled "Technical Review of Gainesville Regional Utilities Integrated Resource Plan" dated November 15, 2004 and prepared by the Alachua County Environmental Protection Department and presented to the City Commission November 15, 2004, annotated to contain staff's responses to the findings and recommendations contained therein; 2) A report entitled "Staff Response to EPAC's Recommendations to the Gainesville City Commission Regarding GRU's Power Plant Proposal"; 3) A report entitled "Supplementary Study of Generating Alternatives For Deerhaven Generating Station" dated March 2004and prepared by Black and Veatch, which contains the source of the information presented by staff to the City Commission on November 1, 2004 addressing the availability of waste wood from forestry resources, the range of alternatives considered for employing biomass, and evaluations of gasification, including Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle facility costs (IGCC); and 4) A report entitled "Staff response to questions and issues regarding long term electrical supply raised during public comment at the November 15, and November 22 2004 City Commission meetings".
drafter
Prepared by: Ed Regan, Assistant General for Strategic Planning
Submitted by: Michael L. Kurtz, General Manager