Energising South African Cities & Towns - City Energy Support Unit

S t e p 3FINDING THE HOOKSReviewing city vision,goals & policiesAN IMPORTANT PART of yoursustainable energy plan is to link itto city goals and issues. This makesthe energy strategy relevant andensures buy-in. Most of the city’sgoals and issues will have an energycomponent, even though it might behidden, as energy is key to the deliveryof all basic services and is thuspivotal to all the services that a localauthority provides. There is alwaysa ‘hook’ on which the sustainableenergy strategy can hang – it’s simplya matter of finding it and makingthe connection clear.MAKINGCONNECTIONSYour city may have adopted formalenergy or environmental goals,which may be in your city’s strategicplan, development plan or cityvision. This strategic plan usuallyoutlines goals concerning land use,transportation, housing, energy andthe environment, all of which havespecific energy links. If you are lucky,your city might have a strategicenvironmental policy within whichsustainable energy easily falls.Even if your city has no statedenvironmental or energy objectives,you can often link the proposed energygoals with poverty, economicand health concerns.For example, your city probablyhas poverty alleviation andadequate housing high on itsagenda, and lower energy expensescan contribute toward this goal.Economic development is a mainobjective for all cities, and creatingan enabling environment for greenelectricity production and localindependent power producers cancontribute to that goal. Improvingaccess while reducing traffic congestionand air pollution are usually toppriorities, and strategies for reducingindividual car use (and petrol anddiesel use) while improving publictransport can help meet these energyrelatedobjectives.Look out for these types of connections.Every energy-efficiency strategycan help meet at least one or two othergoals for your city and its residents.Your city might also have otherprogrammes that could support thedevelopment of a sustainable energystrategy. Look at internationalprogrammes emerging from theWSSD and its predecessors, such asthe Agenda/Action 21 programmeand the Healthy Cities and Cities forClimate Protection campaigns.Poverty alleviation or sustainabledevelopment programmes thatare run in partnership with nationalor provincial government, communityor environmental organisations,local and national universitiesor utilities would all provide a hookfor the sustainable energy strategy.FINANCIALSUSTAINABILITYYour local authority probably alsohas the internal goal of becomingmore financially sustainable andsaving energy in municipal activitieswill contribute to that.Your municipality might alreadyhave a programme that monitorsenergy use in government facilitiesor fleet management programmes.Use these to build your sustainableenergy strategy.BE STRATEGICIt is usually better to dovetail projects,processes and goals that feedyour energy plan. Do be strategic,though, and select programmes thatare strong and well-placed.IDENTIFYING ISSUESYou will be able to start identifyingenergy issues as you collect data andengage in public participation.Filter these energy ‘issues’ throughlocal, national and internationalimperatives so that you can prioritiseand develop energy goals that meetlocal needs.Focus-group workshops are agood way of identifying importantissues and links between energy efficiencyand other primary local issues.Such workshops will also give yourplan increased visibility and buildsupport for the future. Ask participantsto identify and rank the energylinks associated with major city issues.They can help draft energy policystatements and specific recommendationsfor each statement.CHECKLIST WHENIDENTIFYING GOALSAND ISSUES• Become familiar with your city’sstrategic objectives or vision.• Analyse the energy component ofthe city’s goals.• Identify relevant role players to involve inidentifying issues and developing thesustainable energy plan and goals.• Develop a list of demand-side and supplysideenergy related issues in your city and filterit through your city’s strategic vision.ENERGISING SOUTH AFRICAN CITIES & TOWNS 7