CITY OF SEATTLE
ORDINANCE __________________
COUNCIL BILL __________________
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AN ORDINANCE relating to the City Light Department; amending Section 21.49.084 of the Seattle Municipal Code to enable a broader suite of voluntary renewable energy program options to City Light customers.
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WHEREAS, chapter 19.29A.090 RCW requires that electric utilities offer retail electricity customers a voluntary option to purchase qualified alternative energy resources beginning January 1, 2002; and
WHEREAS, the City Light Department (“City Light”) has complied by offering two voluntary programs beginning with the Green Power Program in 2002 and continuing with the Green Up Program in 2005; and
WHEREAS, 19.29A.090 RCW limits the utility’s voluntary program to providing qualified alternative energy-resource options; and
WHEREAS, the Green Up Program established in Seattle Municipal Code Section 21.49.084 continues to offer City Light customers the opportunity to voluntarily support qualified alternative energy resources; and
WHEREAS, in 2019 the Seattle City Council adopted Resolution 31895, a Green New Deal for Seattle, where Section 7 notes that the City will continue to invest in programs that make renewable energy sources more affordable and develop options for community-scale, community-owned distributed generation of electricity in low income communities; and
WHEREAS, customers are seeking a variety of renewable energy products and services to meet their sustainability objectives; and
WHEREAS, customers desire to voluntarily contribute funds to a wider variety of demonstration, educational, or local renewable energy-related projects; and
WHEREAS, City Light aims to meet customer preferences by offering a robust and sustainable suite of voluntary renewable power offerings; NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY OF SEATTLE AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Section 21.49.084 of the Seattle Municipal Code, last amended by Ordinance 123674, is amended as follows:
21.49.084 Voluntary Green Power((, Green-Up)) Programs
A. The Department shall offer a Voluntary Green Power((, Green-Up)) Program, in accordance with chapter 19.29A RCW.
((A. The Green-Up)) 1. Customer participation in the Program shall be voluntary and shall be available to all customers beginning July 1, 2005. Customers may voluntarily begin or terminate their participation at any time on or after July 1, 2005 by notifying the Department of their choice.
((B.)) 2. The ((Green-Up)) Program shall allow each customer to designate a voluntary ((green)) power payment level ((which)) that, at the customer’s discretion, may be added to the customer’s monthly or bimonthly electricity bill or paid one time in full.
((C.)) 3. The voluntary ((Green-Up)) Program payments, less the costs of program administration, marketing, and renewable energy education, (“((Net Green-Up Revenue)) net program revenue”), will be used to purchase qualified alternative energy resources. Subject to ((the provisions of the)) ordinances authorizing issuance of the City’s municipal light and power revenue obligations, the Department shall make available from its budgeted funds, for the purchase or development of new qualified alternative energy resources, an amount equal to the ((Net Green-Up Revenue)) net program revenue allocated to existing Department qualified alternative energy resources.
B. The Department may offer to customers additional renewable energy programs that support non-qualified energy resources, provided that:
1. Customer participation in additional programs shall be voluntary and available to all customers. Customers may voluntarily begin or terminate their participation at any time by notifying the Department of their choice.
2. Additional programs shall encourage the adoption, availability, or affordability of renewable energy resources for the Department and its customers. Renewable energy projects supported by customer voluntary payments may include, but are not limited to:
a. The purchasing, funding, or partial funding of renewable energy projects.
b. Projects for deploying technologies to acquire renewable energy including projects located at local, low-income, non-profit, or public facilities.
c. Other activities intended to build awareness or to enable renewable energy projects through energy education, demonstrations, or collaborative efforts with community partners.
3. Additional programs will be entirely self-funded from voluntary program payments, including, but not limited to, costs of program projects, activities, administration, and marketing. Subject to ordinances authorizing issuance of the City’s municipal light and power revenue obligations, the Department shall make available from its budgeted funds an amount equal to the voluntary program payments.
Section 2. This ordinance shall take effect and be in force 30 days after its approval by the Mayor, but if not approved and returned by the Mayor within ten days after presentation, it shall take effect as provided by Seattle Municipal Code Section 1.04.020.
Passed by the City Council the ________ day of _________________________, 2020, and signed by me in open session in authentication of its passage this _____ day of _________________________, 2020.
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President ____________ of the City Council
Approved by me this ________ day of _________________________, 2020.
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Jenny A. Durkan, Mayor
Filed by me this ________ day of _________________________, 2020.
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Monica Martinez Simmons, City Clerk
(Seal)