District Energy Systems in Eugene, Oregon: An analysis of opportunities + obstacles for success
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Date
2011-06
Authors
Bryant, Hannah
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Department of Planning, Public Policy & Management, University of Oregon
Abstract
The City of Eugene has set aggressive goals to lower its greenhouse gas
emissions, reduce community fossil fuel use and adapt to a changing climate
and increasing fossil fuel prices over the coming decades. Its Climate and
Energy Action Plan named implementation of district energy in Eugene by
2015 as a goal of the City and its citizens, to be initiated by removing “legal,
technical, policy, governance, and financial barriers to district energy
systems.”1 The goal of this study is to identify the range of policy, governance
and financial opportunities and obstacles to a district system in Eugene. It
concludes with recommendations and next steps for removing these barriers.
This project was sponsored by the City of Eugene department of Waste
Reduction and Green Building. It presents an analysis of opportunities and
obstacles to district energy in Eugene with the objective of identifying a
spectrum of possible next steps for the municipal government. To identify
possible obstacles, one neighborhood in Eugene – Walnut Station – was
used as a model.
While the study identifies local barriers and universal risk factors inherent to
district energy, it also highlights some of the unique conditions that may
assist the possible development of a district energy system. It finds that the
key characteristic of feasibility is political will and public support for a system.
Therefore, the primary goal of this study is to serve as an educational tool for
policy makers when determining the extent of municipal involvement in a
future district energy system.
Description
Examining committee: Robert Parker, chair, Ethan Nelson, Jenna Garmon