The city of Sanibel was recently awarded a grant from the National Laboratory of the Rockies (NLR) to support the development of a comprehensive Strategic Energy Plan aimed at strengthening the community\u2019s long-term resilience.<\/p>\n
NLR is a research and development center of the Department of Energy. The grant enables the city to participate in the fifth cohort of the Energy Technology Innovation Partnership Project (ETIPP).<\/p>\n
ETIPP helps coastal, remote and island communities move toward the energy resilience goals that they set for themselves. The program provides technical assistance through a community-driven process that identifies and plans solutions tailored to each community\u2019s unique energy and resilience challenges.<\/p>\n
The city reported that regional partners and technical experts will collaborate directly with the community throughout the planning process to create a plan together that includes:<\/p>\n
\u2013 A high-level assessment of Sanibel\u2019s current energy conditions<\/p>\n
\u2013 A baseline of existing energy use<\/p>\n
\u2013 Customized community goals<\/p>\n
\u2013 A detailed action plan that outlines steps to improve energy resilience and affordability in the near, mid and long term<\/p>\n
\u201cCreating a strategic energy plan will bring Sanibel closer to our resilience goals,\u201d Sanibel Chief Resilience Officer Ashlee Painter said. \u201cThis is a great opportunity for us to leverage local, regional and national experts to plan for our current and future energy needs.\u201d<\/p>\n
The SEP process will involve community outreach events and local stakeholder meetings to gather needs and prioritize actions.<\/p>\n
The city noted that developing a Strategic Energy Plan is a critically important step in improving the community\u2019s resilience to natural events and mitigating the extent and duration of future electric outages.<\/p>\n
For more information about ETIPP, visit https:\/\/www.nrel.gov\/state-local-tribal\/energy-technology-innovation-partnership-project<\/a>.<\/p>\n