Energy Plan

About this measure: King County Executive Ron Sims issued an Executive Order in 2006 which established renewable energy use requirements for King County government operations and directed the development of a plan to meet these requirements. The plan was finalized in February 2007 and forwarded to council at that time for their review.

The renewable energy order requires that:

• 50% of King County's non-transit energy come from renewable sources by 2012
• 35% of King County's transit energy use come from efficiencies and renewables by 2015
• 50% of King County's transit energy use come from efficiencies and renewables by 2020

The goals of the Energy Plan are as follows:

• King County will be a leader in the use of climate-friendly renewable energy sources
• King County will maximize the conversion of waste-to-energy
• King County will become a national model for energy efficiency by achieving a 10% per square foot reduction in county energy use by 2012

2006 results: As this plan was recently adopted and the actions just being initiated, it is too early to report on progress.
2006 target: None

Influencing factors: Several factors will affect the degree that energy plan goals and targets are met, including:

• availability of seed money to conduct efficiency upgrades
• the existing condition and improvement potential of King County building stock
• availability of grant funding, and
• participation and buy in from KC staff and management

Strategy going forward: King County has mapped a comprehensive strategy for achieving energy plan goals and targets, the major elements of which include:

• Implement utility accounting management software
• Conduct and/or update efficiency audits in all county buildings
• Develop energy management plans for energy intensive special-purpose facilities
• Pursue utility grant funding
• Seek achievement of LEED in new county building construction, and
• Allow portion of energy cost savings to be retained by the applicable county department