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Title:
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Memorandum of Understanding with SRP on Water Conservation, Heat Mitigation, Renewable Energy, Electric Vehicles and Equity (Resolution 22013)
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Title
Memorandum of Understanding with SRP on Water Conservation, Heat Mitigation, Renewable Energy, Electric Vehicles and Equity (Resolution 22013)
Description
Request to authorize the City Manager, or his designee, to execute a Water and Energy Future Collaboration Memorandum of Understanding between the City of Phoenix and Salt River Project Agricultural Improvement and Power District that commits to a five-year collaboration developing joint actions in support of common sustainability goals, with a particular focus on actions related to water conservation, heat mitigation, renewable energy, electric vehicles and equity. There is no financial commitment associated with this item.
Report
Summary
Salt River Project Agricultural Improvement and Power District (SRP) has been a close collaborator with the City for decades in water management and is one of the primary electricity providers to the City and its residents. SRP approached the City in November 2021 to begin discussions on a deeper engagement in the form of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that establishes a framework for an innovative collaboration to achieve ambitious goals for drought resilience and carbon emission reductions. The collaboration seeks to align the efforts of the City and SRP to create a resilient water supply and low carbon future that will benefit the City of Phoenix, its residents, businesses and SRP’s customers.
The collaboration will focus cooperation on the following areas:
Drought resilience/forest health: Provide a clean and reliable 100-year water supply. Address forest health and wildfire resilience in order to reduce water quality concerns.
Electric vehicle partnerships: Increase and leverage opportunities that focus on EV policy, education and awareness, and incentives around single-family homes, commercial and multifamily dwellings, public charging, and fleet electrification.
Decarbonization: Reduce carbon emissions and increase renewable and clean energy resources with a focus on pilot projects that address energy equity, energy insecurity, job training opportunities, affordable housing, and resident and business-centered solutions.
Infrastructure: Identify opportunities to streamline and follow permitting and approval processes to facilitate shared goals of drought resilience and low carbon, renewable energy use. Address critical operational infrastructure challenges and opportunities, such as extreme heat impacts and development of resilient energy solutions.
Social justice and heat resilience: Collaborate to address social justice and equity issues caused by extreme heat. Promote energy efficiency, and other programs for limited-income families to alleviate the cost of essential energy services.
Regional collaboration: Identify opportunities to increase collaboration across SRP’s service territory with counties, cities, towns, community-based organizations, and the business community on resilience to extreme heat, drought resilience and decarbonization.
After execution of this MOU, the City and SRP will jointly develop and agree on a work plan to advance the Water and Energy Future Collaboration MOU. The City and SRP will meet at least quarterly and provide staff and resources appropriate to support the work.
The proposed draft form of the MOU is included as Attachment A.
Contract Term
The MOU will remain in effect for five years from the date of signing, but could be cancelled with 60-day notice by either party.
Financial Impact
There is no financial impact associated with this item.
Department
Responsible Department
This item is submitted by Deputy City Manager Karen Peters and the Office of Sustainability.