Title
Repealing Chapter 440 of the Legislative Code related to Energy Benchmarking.
Body
SECTION 1
WHEREAS, Energy use in buildings accounts for approximately 60% of Saint Paul’s greenhouse gas emissions; and
WHEREAS, the EPA estimates that 30% of energy used in commercial and industrial buildings is wasted; and
WHEREAS, benchmarking energy use is the first step to understanding the efficiency of a building and provides insight on how to reduce energy waste and reduce emissions; and
WHEREAS, the Saint Paul Climate Action and Resilience Plan set a citywide goal of carbon neutrality by 2050 and reducing emissions 50% by 2030 from business-as-usual (BAU); and
WHEREAS, in 2019, the City Council adopted resolution 19-81, creating Chapter 440 of the Legislative Code, requiring owners of buildings 50,000 square feet and larger, to benchmark energy and water use annually commencing in 2020; and
WHEREAS, the City managed the benchmarking program from 2020 through 2024, garnering some of the highest compliance rates in the state; and
WHEREAS, in 2023 the Minnesota State Legislature adopted Minnesota Statute 216H.02, establishing new, more aggressive statewide emissions reduction goals; and
WHEREAS, in 2023, the Minnesota State Legislature adopted Minnesota Statute 216C.331, requiring owners of buildings that are 50,000 square feet or larger and located in specified counties and cities to benchmark their energy use; and
WHEREAS, the State Statute allows a city to maintain its benchmarking program if the city’s benchmarking ordinance is at least as stringent as the state’s requirements; and
WHEREAS, Saint Paul sustainability staff compared the City Ordinance with the State Statue and identified areas of significant non-conformity that would be challenging to overcome; and
WHEREAS, Saint Paul sustainability staff recommends repealing the Saint Paul Benchmarking Ordinance (Chapter 440) and transferring benchmarking oversi...
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