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Energy Initiatives

On August 4, 2009, the U.S. Department of Energy notified Charlotte that the City had been awarded its first installment of Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Funds in the amount of $250,000 out of a total $6.78 million award. The initial $250,000 was utilized to develop the DOE required Energy Efficiency and Conservation Strategy and to conduct energy audits for City facilities.


On September 14, 2009 City Council was provided an overview of the block grant program as well as the scope of work, schedule, and process that would be used in reviewing projects for inclusion in the Energy Strategy. City staff and representatives of Camp Dresser and McKee (CDM) have developed a draft Energy Strategy through a collaborative process involving external partners and the public. As part of the process, CDM verified the City's 2006 greenhouse gas inventory for City operations, and developed the Community greenhouse gas inventory. CDM also facilitated the public input process that included an online community survey, two public meetings, and the involvement of Energy Efficiency Parters: Bank of America, Central Piedmont Community College, Charlotte Center City Partners, Charlotte Chamber of Commerce, Clean Air Carolinas, Discovery Place, Duke Energy, Mecklenburg County, Piedmont Natural Gas, Sierra Club, UNC Charlotte, Wells Fargo/Wachovia.

 

Grant Allocations as of 3/2011:

Energy Investments in Revitalization Areas
1. Residential Energy Efficiency Improvements
 $ 600,000
2. Commercial Building Retrofit Program
 $1,200,000
Neighborhood Energy Challenge
3. Neighborhood Energy Challenge
 $ 650,000
Catalyst Projects
4. Electric Vehicle Charging Stations and Vehicles
 $ 240,000
5. I-485 Park & Ride Energy Efficient Lighting Pilot
 $ 300,000
6. Center City On-Street Recycling
 $ 110,000
7. Photovoltaic System - Discovery Place
 $ 126,000
8. Outreach and Education Campaign
 $ 200,000
Air Quality Specific Projects
9. Bicycle Master Plan Project #1 - Wendover/Beal Intersection
 $ 120,000
10. Complete Vehicular Wayfinding and Parking/Variable Messaging Signage
 $ 324,000
Public Building Energy Efficiency Improvements
11. CMU Admin./Brookshire - Energy Improvements $ 900,000
12. Old City Hall - Energy Improvements $ 504,000
13. Energy Efficient Lighting Replacement - Multiple Facilities $ 225,000
14. Energy Efficient Computing $ 360,000
15. Charlotte Housing Authority - Parktowne Terrace Retrofit $ 250,000
Energy Strategy Implementation
16. Establish Energy & Sustainability Manager (2.5 yrs funding) $ 300,000
Total
 $6,529,000