Council starts at 6:30 P.M. on Tuesday with a joint meeting of the Electric Utility Operations Review & Advisory Board (EUORAB) for a review of Demand-Side Management for 2008/09. Demand-Side Management is the city's power program for saving energy by increasing efficiencies. The basis for much of this program comes from a 2006 study "Demand Side Management Evaluation". This study is very good. I believe demand side management (energy efficiency) is the best way and least expensive way the city can address future energy needs. 

The second item with EUROAB is the discussion of power supply options (see last page for staff recommendations). The options being considered include the city purchasing capacity and energy from the proposed Alliant Energy coal plant in Marshalltown, wind/renewable/biofuels, and aggressive demand side management. The direction the city takes will have an impact on the city's energy cost and the city's CO2 production. I am in favor of increasing the city's use of wind power in combination with combustion turbine generators for reliability and aggressive demand side management. For more background see "2008 Power Study" and my comments about the April 22nd meeting.

I invite you to email the city council members with your thoughts whether the city should expand its coal generating capacity, wind generating capacity, demand side management, or pusue other options.  Click here to email council.

The regular meeting starts at 7:00. Tuesday's agenda includes:

• Item 35 -- Developer's Agreement for Bloomington and Stange commercial node. Grocery Store and more moves forward.
• Item 39 -- Resolution approving/denying financial support of $2,500 to the Community Conversations on Diversity Committee to promote a community-wide conversation effort. I support this funding and hope to be able to participate in this effort.

That is it for now. This time it looks like most of the interesting stuff happens in the joint meeting at 6:30. More in a few weeks.

Jim Popken
City Council At Large

Disclaimer: My intent of this communication is to give you a heads up on items coming to the city council. I may state some of my impressions and leanings here. I will, however, try to avoid staking out a position on issues before the council meeting occurs. I feel that I should avoid committing to any positions until I have heard and considered all the public input at the council meeting before a vote.

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See JimPopken.org for past postings.