When the new Obama administration and Congress announced in February 2009 that the federal government would provide billions of dollars through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) in support of energy solutions, ICLEI, an International Council for Local Governments Initiatives, an international membership association of local governments dedicated to climate protection and sustainability, was ready.

“Our energy office director Dave Konkle was beside himself about the administration’s announcement,” said ICLEI spokesperson Annie Strickler. “To have this type of funding available for energy offices across the country is huge.”

Just a few weeks prior to the Obama energy announcement, ICLEI had established its energy office initiative in an effort to help local governments establish their own energy offices—a move that well positioned the association to offer member cities help in their funding applications to the Department of Energy.

“We have the tools, services and resources that helped to empower local governments to swiftly apply for the stimulus money and demonstrate they will use it in a way that will best meets the Energy Department’s goals for the stimulus funds,” said Strickler, who maintained that energy offices fit with the ARRA’s goals in that they “create jobs, save energy, save money and help get the economy going again.”

Konkle, who lead the Ann Arbor, Mich. Energy Office for 20 years, made the case for energy offices to city staffers at ICLEI’s Southeast Regional Workshop in Atlanta this past September. He noted that energy offices can meet long term energy goals and create comprehensive energy strategies for local governments, a goal the Department of Energy is striving for through its grant allocations.

According to ICLEI, the key responsibilities of an energy office include: coordinating and directing the overall energy program; producing an inventory of all energy use, track future energy use; assessing the potential value of energy improvements; leading the effort to draft an Energy Plan; securing resources to implement energy plan; measuring, tracking, evaluating and communicating results, and raising visibility of the program community-wide.

Strickler said cities can open an energy office by hiring a full-time energy officer or consultant and if necessary, add staff as the city realizes energy savings.

A rule of thumb, Konkle pointed out at the September workshop, is cities with populations of 100,000 or more, or that are spending at least $5 million annually on energy costs, are typically large enough to support a full-time energy coordinator/office. Smaller jurisdictions should consider partnering with nearby jurisdictions to form regional energy offices. A regional energy office has the same goals and duties as a local energy office, but the funding and savings are shared among the member communities.

“Grant agencies love regional energy offices and partnerships,” Konkle said.

 

“The savings in establishing an energy office outweigh the costs,” Konkle emphasized to workshop attendees that included representatives from Savannah, Roswell, Athens and Woodstock. “Energy offices also set the example of energy conservation to the larger community and creates polices to move the entire community to more sustainable energy use.”