The local government energy planning process : two comparative case studies and the development of an energy planning process model for local government

The purpose of this thesis is to examine the local government energy planning process and develop a model energy planning process for local governments. is designed to be incorporated in comprehensive planning process. a This model local government

The first part of the study is a review of state-of-the-art energy planning at the national, state, and local levels of government. The purpose of this review is to familiarize the reader with the energy planning responsibilities of the three levels of government.

The second part of the study is comparative case studies of the energy planning process in Norris and Knoxville, Tennessee. The case studies were developed through structured, open-ended interviews with the planners who worked on their respective energy plans. These case studies were compared and contrasted to identify successful and unsuccessful elements in each energy planning process.

In the third part of the study, a model energy planning process for local government is developed. This model is based on the case studies and supplemented by a review of energy planning literature and interviews with experts in energy planning.

The study found the elements of the model energy planning process to be a community energy audit; goals and objectives development; development and selection of alternatives; implementation strategies development; and adoption and implementation. In conducting a community energy audit, the study recommends using easily obtainable energy use data and avoiding complex energy audits that require excessive time and money. An important finding is that elected official involvement throughout the energy planning process is crucial to the adoption and implementation of the energy plan by the local legislative body. The major conclusion from the study is that energy planning can be incorporated in a local government comprehensive planning process.