Facilitating advisory groups to identify equitable climate action opportunities
The Client: City of Boulder
The Challenge: After voters decided to end a decade-long effort toward municipalizing Boulder’s electric utility, the City entered into a partnership agreement with Xcel Energy, bringing with them ambitious goals focused on renewable energy and greenhouse gas reduction goals. As part of the agreement, a community advisory panel was established to provide community perspective, recommendations, and accountability to the partnership. The City needed an impartial facilitator to help the group navigate the challenging, and sometimes contentious, transition.
Our Approach: Since 2021, IBE has been designing, facilitating, and documenting public meetings and workshops for the 18-member advisory panel, working groups, and with City and Xcel staff members.
The Outcomes: The advisory panel and working groups identified recommendations and priorities for closing the 100% renewable energy gap by 2030 and pathways toward building electrification. In January 2023, the partnership released the Energy Partnership Agreement 2023-2025 Overview document, which reflects the advisory panel’s recommendations combined with technical expertise from the City of Boulder, Xcel Energy, and their consultant teams.
Project Goals
- Facilitate community advisory panel discussions to identify opportunities and priorities for equitable climate action, including 100% renewable energy
- Build community relationships and public trust
- Develop and apply an equity lens throughout the process
- Consider the expertise of the advisory and working groups to inform the strategy for meeting the City’s goals
Deliverables
- Quarterly advisory panel meeting agendas, collateral, and documentation
- Renewable energy and electrification working group recommendations report
- Equity lens development to inform process decision making for equitable outcomes
