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"Everyone talks about preserving and conserving and doing the right thing, well here's an opportunity to do just that. --Thomas Valeo Wellington Resident
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VILLAGE OF WELLINGTON ENERGY ACTION PLAN PROPOSAL This plan has been formulated in an effort to begin the process of planning for tomorrow. We know the decisions and actions of today determine our community of tomorrow. This proposed series of actions represents one step forward that must be taken to commit ourselves to designing our community of tomorrow. I. Reclamation of unbuilt portions of FPL's east-west right-of-way & north-south right-of-way A. Easement swap between FPL, residents of rights-of-ways and Village for unbuilt portions of east-west right-of-way and north-south right-of-way. B. Buy back of FPL's easement rights to east-west-right-of-way and north-south right-of way. C. Whether by easement swap or purchase of FPL's easement rights, east-west right-of-way and north-south right-of-way become easements for Village of Wellington. D. First step of acquisition to be complete by November 2005. E. Resulting dispersal of transmission lines rather than concentration in one area produces greater electric reliability for all. FPL prefers to disperse its transmission facilities to provide more reliable electric service to its customers. F. Dispersal of transmission facilities is better land use for community.
II. Tree Preservation and Replacement A. Use rights-of ways to create carbon sinks for carbon sequestration to help offset our carbon dioxide emissions. See Energy Information Administration's Voluntary Reporting of Greenhouse Gases Program at http://www.eia.doe.gov/oiaf/1605/frntvrgg.html. This is a voluntary program in which any individual or organization can participate. FPL participates in this effort through its membership in Edison Electric Institute's Utilitree program. B. Village to modify its landscaping ordinance so as to be in effect by November 2005 to require tree canopy replacement instead of current minimum tree requirement. See Ordinance 2004-11 at http://www.ci.wellington.fl.us/PDF/PZ/Ordinance%202004-11.pdf. 1. Tree replacement to be on same property where tree removal occurred. 2. Tree replacements planted in energy conservation zone where possible. See Sec. 2, page 3 of landscape ordinance for definition. 3. Rectify current inequity where removal of trees in the FPL easements could result in the number of trees on a property falling below the minimum number required thereby forcing a property owner to plant more trees at his own expense. See Utilities paragraph on page 28 of landscape ordinance: "The easement area shall be counted in plant quantity calculations and plants removed from the easement area shall be relocated or replaced elsewhere in site." Also see Minimum interior tree and shrub quantities beginning on page 21. 4. All residents, companies, corporations, utilities (whether public or private), and governmental entities shall be subject to this ordinance.
III. Green Infrastructure A. Complete tree canopy study by Summer/Fall of 2006. $21,500 matching funds grant awarded from Florida Division of Forestry in April 2005. 1. Document existing tree canopy level for Village. 2. Calculate value our trees provide for improving air and water quality.
3. Set goal for tree canopy level and
integrate into land use planning and management decisions. B. Recognize value of green infrastructure for people, wildlife, overall community health and economic well-being. See fact sheet Livable Communities and Urban Forests from the Local Government Commission at http://www.lgc.org/freepub/PDF/Energy/livcomm_urban_forests.pdf 1. Ensure C8 and C9 equestrian/multipurpose trails are kept intact as part of larger equestrian/multipurpose trail system. 2. Link equestrian/multipurpose trails to Florida Greenways and Trails system. 3. Create attractive, low-maintenance landscaping along C8 and C9 trails to encourage trails' use. 4. Create attractive, low-maintenance landscaping within all of FPL rights-of-ways along C8, C9 canals to buffer undesirable view yet allow FPL access to maintain its powerlines. Pursuant to meeting with John Tamsberg, FPL Transmission Vegetation Supervisor of Power Systems, plantings 16 feet high are permitted in rights-of-ways. 5. Landscape with native plants in keeping with pine flatwoods community. 6. Rid area of invasive non-native plants listed on Exotic Pest Plant Council list. 7. Realize importance of neighborhood green space for people's physical, emotional and mental health. See website of the Human –Environment Research Laboratory at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign at http://www.herl.uiuc.edu/
IV. Energy Plan for Village
A. Minimize its energy needs with goal
of becoming self-sufficient, minimizing negative impacts on our own community
and neighboring communities, both manmade and natural. 1. Construct Village-owned buildings to obtain Green Building designation. See http://floridagreenbuilding.org/
2. Village to use Energy Star rated office equipment, energy-efficient
lighting, energy-efficient motors, etc. B. Village to consider becoming its own municipal electric utility by 2026 when franchise agreement expires with FPL. Village on May 5, 2005, approved 30-year franchise agreement with Florida Public Utilities to provide natural gas services within municipal boundaries. For examples of what some municipal utilities are doing in Florida and in other states: see Sacramento Municipal Utility District at www.smud.org/; City of Austin at www.austinenergy.com/; Los Angeles Department of Water and Power at www.ladp.com/; City of Tallahassee at http://talgov.com/citytlh/utilities/index.html; Gainesville Regional Utilities at www.gru.com/ C. Rigidly enforce Florida Energy Code. D. Village to educate residents and businesses through pamphlets, Village website, Village TV channel how to reduce energy consumption 1. Plant trees for energy conservation 2. Use compact fluorescents, save a tree
3. Build Green 5 Disseminate energy saving tips with focus on information not given by electric and gas utilities 6. Use water-efficient appliances E. Village to provide financial incentives to residents and businesses to achieve above wherever possible.
V. Notification of Impending Utility and Gas Projects A. Notification to citizens by Village and Utilities in timely manner similar to notification of zoning changes B. Village of Wellington to work with League of Cities, Association of Counties, Florida Legislature, Department of Environmental Protection, and Department of Community Affairs 1. Design a public hearing process for electric utilities to follow in powerline sitings that do not fall under the Transmission Line Siting Act a. Under 15 miles in length b. Do not cross a county line See Sec. 403.524 Florida Statutes, viewable at http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/. 2. Mandate a process for burial of electric transmission lines that provides for more equitable cost sharing |