Specifications include, but are not limited to: • Energy Efficiency: Prioritizing and accelerating energy efficiency efforts in facilities, taking into consideration the energy efficiency projects already in progress or planned for implementation during 2024-2025. The plan will lead with energy efficiency opportunities, recognizing that lowering energy demand in facilities is an important precursor to electrification and other decarbonization efforts. • Electrification: Developing a strategy for systematic electrification and implementation by identifying the highest impact building electrification projects and accounting for Xcel Energy’s “greening of the grid” transformation within the plan’s timeline. o Identifying existing “electrification-ready” buildings and providing portfolio-wide guidance on incorporating high-capacity electrical panels, electrical chases and conduit runs, and locating electrical outlets near gas equipment for future equipment conversion. o Looking at the business case if the building’s existing electrical capacity can handle the added heating load without need for expansion. o Looking for opportunities for switchovers to be synced with the end-oflife of existing mechanical equipment and/or asset repositioning plans. o Reviewing the needs for electric vehicle charging infrastructure at municipal properties and assessing the electrical capacity for adding EV charging stations and strategies to manage peak demand. • Renewable Energy: Maximizing on-site renewable energy systems and exploring off-site renewable energy investment opportunities for the City of Saint Paul. o Evaluating options for installing additional rooftop solar, ground-mounted solar, and geothermal systems at municipal buildings. o Assessing opportunities for procuring off-site renewables through community solar garden subscriptions, Xcel Energy’s Renewable*Connect program, renewable energy power purchase agreements, renewable energy certificates (RECs) purchases, or investing in city-owned/leased off-site renewable energy project development. o Considering energy storage and backup power options to improve the resiliency of city operations. • Alternative Fuels and other Technologies: Evaluating the potential for thermal technologies and the use of other alternative fuels, such as renewable natural gas (RNG) and green hydrogen, to reduce carbon use intensity for remaining fossil fuelbased energy systems. • Internal Policy Development: Providing policy recommendations and operational guidance for internal building performance standards or sustainable building policies that prevent new fossil fuel infrastructure from being added to the City’s building portfolio. Policy recommendations should include example language and suggested implementation schedules, as well as resources for staff training/education on the new policies. • Carbon Sequestration and Offsets: Evaluating the role of carbon sequestration and carbon offsets within municipal operations. o Providing a cost-benefit analysis for the purchase of high-quality carbon offsets from recognized carbon offset registries, prioritizing offsets with significant co-benefits that enhance environmental justice. o Making policy recommendations for the use of carbon offsets and an approach for carbon sequestration/credits with the City’s emissions accounting.
