Vision
- The “Energy Sector” is a measurable component of the regional economy.
- Huntsville energy infrastructure has been “disaster-proofed”, safeguarding continuity of service during and after severe weather or man-made events.
- Local colleges and universities have global reputations as go-to institutions for energy research and education.
- Energy sector-related jobs are among the fastest-growing in Huntsville.
- The City of Huntsville will be a southeastern leader in sustainable energy.
- The Energy Huntsville initiative continues to be a valuable platform for expanding awareness and resources regarding energy policy and technology.
About
The importance of energy to our community cannot be overstated. It’s at the core of one of the City’s key Initiatives with Energy Huntsville. Energy Huntsville is diversifying the region’s economy, workforce and business environment to include energy applications and innovations. It is doing so by linking the commercial and government contracting strengths of the greater Huntsville region with key customer requirements, market forces and national policy directives for advanced energy systems and applications. The goal is to establish this community as the premier technology center for solutions to energy programs and projects.
Planning for energy resiliency, security and sustainability is necessary for our safety and quality of life. But it also represents an opportunity to expand our economic footprint.
“Energy Huntsville is diversifying the region’s economy, workforce and business environment to include energy applications and innovations by linking the commercial and government contracting strengths of the greater Huntsville region with key customer requirements, market forces and national policy directives for advanced energy systems and applications. The goal is to establish this community as the go-to technology center for solutions to energy programs and projects.”
Through the work of groups like Energy Huntsville, our community can become a hub for research, design and development of new energy technologies and products. Our tech-oriented workforce and our existing industries can be leveraged to make a name for ourselves on the global energy stage.
A future can be imagined in which Huntsville’s “Advanced Energy Economy” generates hundreds of new jobs, and attracts scores of new companies to the Tennessee Valley. National publications would list Huntsville among the best cities for energy startups and energy research. The region would be a national model for sustainability and resiliency, and local colleges and universities would have top programs in the industry.
Actions
-
Target energy companies for recruitment and work with local entrepreneurs and businesses looking to enter into the energy industry.
-
Through the entrepreneur ecosystem, work with budding entrepreneurs who are interested in breaking into the energy sector.
-
Work with Energy Huntsville to develop more “intrapreneur” programs for local businesses looking to enter the energy market.
-
Conducting an energy portfolio analysis for the City of Huntsville. Benchmark buildings that the City owns or operates. If applicable, the City could share the energy performance of each building to the public to include an ENERGY STAR score or an energy use index (EUI).
-
Share best practices and showcase projects to encourage private sector adoption, and review land use codes and remove barriers to low impact development.
-
Work with Huntsville Utilities to maintain its business energy audit system of in-person and online services.
-
Consider financial incentives for the purchase and installation of energy efficiency upgrades in commercial buildings.
-
Consider a City ordinance establishing a “property assessed clean energy” (PACE) program in accordance with Alabama state law.
-
Recognize and reward top energy efficiency and renewable energy performers with an award analogous to the current “beautification” award.
-
Implement or support outreach and education programs to educate the public about how to implement renewable energy strategies with community organizations and/or utility companies.
-
If feasible, and in partnership with Huntsville Utilities, participate in a microgrid demonstration project that isolates a vital City district during a grid outage and continues core operating functions.
-
Implement or support an education and outreach program for home and business resiliency and reliability during grid outages.
-
Assess the feasibility and ecological impact of burying electrical utilities.
Last modified: November 19th, 2018 at 3:19 pm
