Ogden— Ogden City released a new plan on July 6, 2020, to reduce energy waste and improve resilience across all sectors of the city. The Energy Wise Ogden Strategic Implementation Plan lays out goals, strategies, and timelines to significantly reduce energy waste in Ogden’s municipal operations, businesses, and residential areas.

The Plan is the result of Ogden City’s participation in the Utah Energy Wise Communities pilot program funded by the United States Department of Energy, managed by the Utah Governor’s Office of Energy Development, and implemented by Utah Clean Energy. The Plan represents the collective work of more than 30 steering committee members and hundreds of community members who provided feedback during the Plan’s development over the past year.

“The Energy Wise Strategic Implementation Plan is designed to enhance economic stability, protect our quality of life, and preserve Ogden’s rich natural environment,” states Marcia White, Ogden City Council Member. “We look forward to working in close collaboration with Ogden businesses, residents, and local nonprofits to help achieve our ambitious goals.” The Plan is hosted on the Ogden City Council’s Sustainability website.

The Plan outlines specific goals for different sectors of Ogden’s community:

• Municipal goal: Cost-effectively decrease average energy use intensity of municipal facilities by five percent by 2025, as compared to the 2018 baseline.
• Business sector goal: Increase commercial/industrial facilities total annual participation in efficiency programs by five percent by 2025, as compared to 2018 baseline.
• Residential sector goal: Increase energy-efficiency upgrades to residential properties by 25 percent and increase participation in low-income efficiency programs by 50 percent, over 2018 baseline by 2025.

The Plan also outlines 10 specific strategies to achieve the energy savings goals. These strategies range from energy benchmarking, energy efficiency improvements such as facility upgrades, and coordinated energy efficiency campaigns with the community. The Plan also includes timelines for implementation and organizations that should play a role in implementing the strategies.

“Ogden City has again shown the possibilities of effective community engagement and collaboration with this comprehensive and sustainable plan that will deliver significant energy savings to the city for decades to come,” states Rob Simmons, Executive Director of the Governor’s Office of Energy Development.

The collective energy savings from the Plan is estimated to result in community-wide energy savings equivalent to the annual energy consumption of over 12,000 Utah homes.

Above and beyond the energy and cost saving benefits are the resilience benefits from the Plan. By improving community-wide energy efficiency, Ogden City will reduce overall energy use, thereby allowing Ogden City residents to maintain comfortable buildings while also lowering peak energy demands. This is particularly vital now, as more families are sheltering in place and looking for opportunities to keep energy costs low.

“Successful implementation of this plan will not only result in substantial cost and carbon-emission savings for the entire Ogden City community but will also make the entire community more resilient and safe,” states Kevin Emerson, Utah Clean Energy’s Energy Efficiency Program Director.

About Ogden City

First incorporated in 1851, Ogden is the oldest and one of the largest cities in Utah with nearly 90,000 residents. Nicknamed Junction City for once being a main transfer station in the West, Ogden has evolved from a rough railroad town to a top destination for families, businesses, and tourists.

About the Utah Governor’s Office of Energy Development

The Utah Governor’s Office of Energy Development (OED) is committed to advancing Utah’s energy and minerals economies for the provision of affordable, reliable, and sustainable outcomes that provide significant and lasting value to the state. OED supports and encourages innovation and responsible development of all resources, including renewable, conventional, and unconventional, as well as advancements in the areas of efficiency, conservation, and alternative transportation.

About Utah Clean Energy

Utah Clean Energy is recognized as one of Utah’s leading, expert, public interest organizations working to expand renewable energy and energy efficiency in a way that is beneficial not only for Utah’s environment and health, but our economy and long-term energy security. Learn more at utahcleanenergy.org