Energy Management, Efficiency, and Renewable Energy
The Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) region is expected to grow by 48% by 2040, to approximately 10.6 million. Conservation and resource efficiency will be critical to accommodating growth while also preserving existing regional resources. Implementing energy management programs, energy efficiency, and renewable energy projects can positively impact the North Central Texas region by reducing emissions through the reduction of power generation needed. The linkage between water and energy, or the energy-water nexus, is also important to reducing consumption of important water resources in North Central Texas.
Regional Energy Management Program
In 2018 the North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG) kicked off a regional effort with the State Energy Conservation Office (SECO) to offer water and energy conservation trainings and workshops, expand the use of the ENERGY STAR Building Portfolio Manager tool, provide assistance to local governments in taking advantage of SECO resources, and enhance Senate Bill 898 energy program reporting.
SECO's Local Government Energy Program
The Local Government Energy Program is available to all Texas' publicly funded: Cities; Counties; Public Independent School Districts and Special Districts (Airports: Port Authorities; Utility Districts; Water Districts and River Authorities). Its purpose is to provide a number of integrated services to assist in setting up and maintaining effective energy efficiency programs. The program assists entity officials through energy-efficient partnerships, technical support, preliminary energy assessment services and training workshops.
Local Government Energy Reporting
The Texas Health and Safety Code §388.005(c) requires each political subdivision in a non-attainment area or an affected county to establish a goal to reduce electric consumption by at least five percent each state fiscal year. In 2019, the 86th Legislature passed Senate Bill 241, extending the timeline for this requirement seven years beginning September 1, 2019.
Each political subdivision must submit a report annually to SECO regarding the entity's progress and efforts to meet the five percent annual reduction goal. Fiscal Year 2019 reports should be submitted online to SECO by February 1, 2020. Beginning 2021, SECO will require entities to report their annual electric consumption based upon the calendar year, rather than the fiscal year, and reports will be collected by February 1 of each year. Information submitted to SECO will be included in an annual report to members of the Texas Legislative and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, providing entities a great opportunity to gain recognition for energy efficiency efforts.
To learn more about who must report, and how, please visit the SECO webpage for Local Government Energy Reporting.
Technical Assistance for Local Governments
Looking for help with your energy or water management? SECO's Local Governments Energy Program can provide free assistance with various aspects of an organization's energy and water efficiency. They can also assist with the identification and implementation of a wide range of energy and water-related facility and infrastructure upgrade and retrofit initiatives. To learn more about these resources or request
services from SECO, simply visit the corresponding online resource linked below.
- Flyer: SECO Resources for Achieving Reduced Energy Costs and Maximizing Efficiency
- Preliminary Energy Assessments (PEA's)
- Technical Assistance for Local Governments
- City Efficiency Leaders Project
Additional Resources
- SECO Funding Opportunities
- Building Portfolio Manager and Benchmarking
- ENERGY STAR to learn more about ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager®.
- Procurement
- SPEER Local Government Energy Reporting Outreach
Webinar: Procurement Options to Support Energy Reduction
Date: Tuesday, May 12, 2020Time: 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM CST
A variety of procurement options are available to local governments to get energy efficiency projects started, ranging from purchasing cooperatives to cooperative procurement to RFPs. A panel will examine some of these opportunities and how your local government can leverage them to streamline administrative burdens associated with acquiring energy efficiency products and services.
Presenters:
Jennifer Sanders
Executive Director and Co-Founder
North Texas Innovation Alliance
Gerard MacCrossan
Manager - Data Management, Analytics & Technology
Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts
Craigan Johnson
Purchasing Supervisor
NCTCOG
Register: https://www.addevent.com/event/ml4878767
Webinar: Financing Energy Efficiency Projects for Facilities and Services
Time: 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM CST
The North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG), in collaboration with the Texas Energy Services Coalition Chapter and the Texas PACE Authority, is hosting a webinar for local governments interested in learning about energy savings performance contracts, loans and financing mechanisms, and Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) programs.
Presenters:
Dub Taylor
Chief Operating Officer, Texas PACE Authority
Lisa Tames (Representing ESC Texas Chapter)
Senior Vice President - Energy Services, Bank of America
Matt Lombardo (Representing ESC Texas Chapter)
Sales Development Manager, Schneider Electric
Eddy Trevino
Director, State Energy Conservation Office
Recording:
Video Recording: Financing Energy Efficiency Projects for Facilities and Services
Presentation:
Financing Energy Efficiency Projects for Facilities and Services
Webinar: Understanding Municipal Utility Bills & Tracking Energy Consumption
Recording:
Presentation:
Leveraging COG Programs and Funding to Support Energy Management for Your Members
Created by the North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG) just for other Council of Governments (COGs) - this webinar showcases how to leverage existing COG programs that already have complementary energy management related elements to help drive energy efficiency and management initiatives for members in your region. NCTCOG shares with other COGs their experience on working with energy management programs and provides recommendations on programs that can help facilitate leveraging funds that are already available to you. Example program areas include: solid waste, emergency preparedness, air quality, transportation, and weatherization programs.Webinar was produced in partnership with the Texas Association of Regional Councils e-Learning Series.
Recording:
Presentation:
Additional Resources:
Facility Retrofits to Reduce Overall Energy and Water Consumption
Facility retrofits are a beneficial way to improve energy and water efficiency and reduce overall consumption and save money. This workshop will explore ways local governments can implement facility retrofits to reduce overall consumption within their own facilities. Financing and technical resources will be highlighted that can be accessed by local government entities in North Central Texas. The process to receive free technical assistance and preliminary energy assessments (PEA) from the Texas State Energy Conservation Office will also be covered.
Presentations:
- Agenda
- NCTCOG Workshop Introduction
- Planning and Implementing Utility Cost Reduction Measures
- City of Denton Facility Retrofits and Upgrades
- Resources for Energy Management
Flyers & Handouts:
- SECO SB898 (82R) Reporting Form
- Preliminary Energy Assessments
- Energy Efficiency Reporting Requirements in Texas Matrix
- Free Technical Assistance Flyer
- Using Excel Templates for Building Portfolio Manager Uploads
- Why Energy Use Matters
- EVNT & Funding Opportunities for Fleets
Emergency Preparedness and the Energy Supply
Presentations:
- Agenda
- NCTCOG Workshop Introduction
- Practical Approaches to Keeping the Lights On with CHP Microgrids
- Emergency Response Plan Coordination
- Resources
Flyers & Handouts:
- SECO SB898 (82R) Reporting Form
- Energy Efficiency Reporting Requirements in Texas Matrix
- Free Technical Assistance Flyer
- Why Energy Use Matters
- The Energy-Resilient City Infographic
- Resilient Power Infrastructure and Technology Solutions
- Planning a Resilient Power Sector
- DOE Energy Efficiency and Distributed Generation for Resilience - Case Studies
Lowering Local Government Energy Consumption Through Energy Planning and Policies
Good management of government-owned facilities is critical to reducing local governments' energy and water expenses, as well as air quality impacts associated with power generation. The foundation of good management is good planning. Establishing operational and maintenance protocols and policies are important components of any energy management plan. Having well defined goals and policies can be important to ensuring that energy consumption is minimized to the maximum extent possible. This workshop will provide information for local governments on the following topics:
- Establishing energy plans and policies
- Internal policy and program changes to avoid energy waste through behavior and Operation & Maintenance changes
- Statutory reporting requirements for cities, counties, state agencies, and institutes of higher education
- Resources provided by the State Energy Conservation Office
Presentations:
- NCTCOG Workshop Introduction
- Energy Management Policy and Plans
- Energy Savings and Maintenance & Operation Practices
- NCTCOG and SECO Resources
Flyers & Handouts:
- SECO SB898 (82R) Reporting Form
- EVNT & Funding Opportunities for Fleets
- Sample Energy Management Policy
Energy Management for Local Governments: Legislative Requirements, Benchmarking, and Tools to Measure Energy and Water Use
Public entities in North Central Texas spend large portions of their budgets on power for city facilities and services. The power generation needs associated with this energy use also impacts air quality at a regional level. Good management of these assets is critical to finding opportunities to reduce energy and water expenses, as well as associated air quality impacts. In addition to it making good financial sense, many local governments are required by state statute to report energy consumption to the Texas State Energy Conservation Office annually. Benchmarking and energy reporting tools can streamline efforts for filing this report. This workshop will provide information for local governments on the following topics:
- Senate Bill 898 reporting requirements for cities, counties, state agencies, and institutes of higher education
- Benchmarking and the value of understanding your facilities' energy and water use
- Energy Star Building Portfolio Manager
- Free energy audits and other resources offered by the Texas State Energy Conservation Office
Presentations:
- Energy Management for Local Governments - NCTCOG
- Energy Accounting & Benchmarking - TEESI Engineering
- ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager: What Can Portfolio Manager Do? - TEESI Engineering
- Resources: SECO, NCTCOG, and Others - NCTCOG
Flyers & Handouts:
- SECO SB898 (82R) Reporting Form
- Cooperative Electricity Purchasing Programs Available to Local Governments in Texas
- ENERGY STAR: Local Governments Overview of Energy Use and Efficiency Opportunities
- EVNT & Funding Opportunities for Fleets
- Vehicle Funding Opportunities Summary
SECO Resource Overview and Renewable Energy Planning and Procurement Workshop
The intent of this workshop was to provide NCTCOG members: 1) an overview of Utility Rate Analysis and determining what types of utility rate structures/procurement strategies make the most sense for your organization; 2) information about energy management resources available from the State Energy Conservation Office (SECO); and, 3) planning and procurement of renewable energy through long-term renewable energy purchasing agreements that are now available for local governments.
Presentations:
Publications
​Whitepapers:- Local Government Energy Reporting Requirements in Texas
- Integration of Energy Resilience into Hazard Mitigation Planning
Case Studies:
- Development of an Energy Management Plan for Tarrant Regional Water District
- The City of Lewisville's Energy Consumption Reduction
Other Publications:
- Best Management Practices for Incorporating Energy Resilience into Hazard Mitigation Planning
- Virtual Microgrid Tour: Successful Projects Across the U.S.
Conserve North Texas
This website was developed to provide local governments and other users a "one-stop-shop" for a comprehensive inventory
of programs, tools, case studies, and other resources that address water, energy, and transportation topics. It is hoped that
this will help users quickly locate resources that meet their needs while also highlighting “silo-busting” projects that have
found ways to conserve resources in multiple areas. Visit www.conservenorthtexas.org for more information.
Go Solar Texas
To increase deployment of solar across Texas, NCTCOG has worked to compile key resources for Texans interested in
learning more about going solar, and developed Texas-specific resources on best management practices for local
governments. Visit www.gosolartexas.org for more information. Links to the most popular topics on this page are below:
Key resources and projects that NCTCOG supports for North Central Texas are highlighted below.
DFW Clean Cities Coalition
The use of alternative fuels support reduction goals of the DFW Clean Cities Coalition. Visit www.dfwcleancities.org for more information.
Renewable Energy Projects
State Energy Conservation Office
In 2016 NCTCOG partnered with the Texas State Energy Conservation Office (SECO) to expand best management practices for solar photovoltaic systems throughout the State of Texas. Under the project, NCTCOG focused on supply side and demand side activities, including items such as outreach to niche markets, providing trainings and solar information statewide, and expanding permitting and ordinance templates statewide. Visit www.gosolartexas.org for more information.
Solar Ready II
In 2013 and 2014 NCTCOG participated in the U.S. Department of Energy’s Solar Ready II program by partnering with the National Association of Regional Councils, the Mid-America Regional Council, and Meister Consultants Group. NCTCOG worked with local governments and interested parties to implement best management practices and provide training for solar energy in the DFW region. The goal of this project was to improve the DFW solar market by providing a more streamlined and standardized solar process. Visit www.gosolartexas.org/local-governments for more information.
Regional Stewardship
Regional Integration of Sustainability Efforts (RISE) Coalition
The Regional Integration of Sustainability Efforts (RISE) Coalition, formerly the North Central Texas Stewardship Forum, works to engage interested local governments in peer-exchange opportunities to support sustainability and environmental initiatives.
The North Central Texas Environmental Stewardship Forum (Forum) began as an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) grant funded effort dedicated to bringing together North Central Texas (NCT) governmental and quasi-governmental organizations to share best practices, lessons learned and resources to ease the burden of developing and supporting sustainability and environmental initiatives. Having completed the grant, the participating cities and EPA acknowledged the value the Forum brought to communication and collaboration to achieve environmental goals and have recently established the Regional Integration of Sustainability Efforts (RISE) Coalition to carry on the activities the Forum started. Visit www.nctcog.org/envir/development-excellence/rise-coalition for more information.
Resources
For more information, please contact Crysta Guzman at cguzman@nctcog.org or 817-695-9107.