CITY OF SEATTLE
RESOLUTION __________________
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A RESOLUTION relating to the City Light Department; acknowledging and approving the 2020 Integrated Resource Plan Progress Report as conforming with the public policy objectives of The City of Seattle and the requirements of the State of Washington; and approving the Progress Report for the biennium September 2018 through August 2020.
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WHEREAS, The City of Seattle (“City”) recognizes the desire of its citizens to have adequate, reliable, affordable, equitable, low-risk, and environmentally responsible electric power resources; and
WHEREAS, the City recognizes the need for clean and reliable electric power resources to assure the economic well-being, health, comfort, and safety of its citizens; and
WHEREAS, the 2020 Integrated Resource Plan Progress Report continues to emphasize conservation first as its foundation and is consistent with Seattle City Council Resolution 30144 for meeting as much load growth as possible with conservation and renewable resources; and
WHEREAS, the 2020 Integrated Resource Plan Progress Report recognizes that the City Light Department (“City Light”) has been a leader in reducing its greenhouse gas emissions and plans to maintain greenhouse neutrality; and
WHEREAS, the 2020 Integrated Resource Plan Progress Report describes that City Light has a role to serve to further advance regional greenhouse gas reductions and support leadership in the region as a model for energy conservation, renewable energy, and electrification; and
WHEREAS, the 2020 Integrated Resource Plan Progress Report describes that City Light will in its next Integrated Resource Plan Update develop a ten-year Clean Energy Action plan describing the steps that City Light will take to maintain greenhouse gas neutrality and equitable access to clean and affordable energy, and make progress towards being greenhouse gas-free by 2045 to conform with the 2019 Washington Clean Energy Transformation Act (CETA); and
WHEREAS, the 2020 Integrated Resource Plan Progress Report is intended to conform with State of Washington requirements under Revised Code of Washington (RCW) Chapter 19.280 for development of integrated resource plans or progress reports by consumer-owned utilities and approval of such plans or reports by the consumer-owned utilities’ governing boards by September 1 each biennium; and
WHEREAS, the City recognizes City Light’s staff has requested and received permission from the Washington State Department of Commerce (“Commerce”) to delay its completion of an updated Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) and instead complete an Integrated Resource Plan Progress Report; and
WHERAS, the City recognizes in addition to this one-time deviation from normal practice, Commerce also granted permission to extend the transmittal to City Council to December 31, 2020; and
WHERAS, the City recognizes the decision by City Light’s staff to request this change was a result of City Light’s need to effectively incorporate and communicate provisions of the recently passed CETA, and the COVID-19 pandemic; and
WHEREAS, the City’s Integrated Resource Plan will be revised and updated within the next two years to reflect changes to the region’s and City Light’s circumstances; NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SEATTLE, THE MAYOR CONCURRING, THAT:
Section 1. The City Council acknowledges the 2020 Integrated Resource Plan Progress Report, as developed by the City Light Department (“City Light”) and attached to this resolution as Attachment 1, and hereby approves the 2020 Integrated Resource Plan Progress Report for the biennium September 2018 through August 2020. The Progress Report complies with the public policy objectives of The City of Seattle and the requirements of the State of Washington.
Section 2. Consistent with the findings of the 2020 Integrated Resource Plan Progress Report, the City Council expects City Light to continue to emphasize environmental leadership and compliance with the Washington Energy Independence Act and the Washington Clean Energy Transformation Act through its conservation programs, between now and the completion of the 2022 Integrated Resource Plan.
Adopted by the City Council the ________ day of _________________________, 2021S, and signed by me in open session in authentication of its adoption this ________ day of _________________________, 2021.
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President ____________ of the City Council
The Mayor concurred the ________ day of _________________________, 2021.
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Jenny A. Durkan, Mayor
Filed by me this ________ day of _________________________, 2021.
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Monica Martinez Simmons, City Clerk
(Seal)
Attachments:
Attachment 1 - Seattle City Light 2020 Integrated Resource Plan Progress Report