OUC's Energy Roadmap

OUC BOARD APPROVES ENERGY ROADMAP

The OUC Board of Commissioners approved the long-awaited Electric Integrated Resource Plan (EIRP), a 30-year energy roadmap, at its Dec. 10 meeting. The planning process took into consideration public feedback gathered over nearly two years, which included community meetings, online surveys, a public workshop and a 12-member Advisory Council representing OUC’s nearly 240,000 customers. The final plan sets the path for OUC to meet the critical Net Zero CO2 Emissions by 2050 goal, as well as interim targets of 50% CO2 emissions reduction by 2030 and 75% by 2040. Read the full report by clicking here.

OUC ENERGY ROADMAP PUBLIC WORKSHOP

The general public is invited to attend a workshop to learn about the OUC Management Clean Energy Roadmap Recommendation, a critical step in finalizing the Electric Integrated Resource Plan (EIRP). Following a presentation of the recommendations, attendees will have the opportunity to provide comments to the Board for consideration prior to its adoption of the plan.

2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, November 17, 2020

The meeting will take place virtually via WebEx and in person in the Seventh Floor Commission Chambers at Reliable Plaza located at 100 West Anderson Street, Orlando, FL. The public may attend and view the meeting in person in the First Floor Community Room (#147) and the OUCafe, as well as virtually via WebEx at the link below.

Public attendance is limited with seating available on a first-come basis. Once full capacity has been reached, additional in-person attendees will be asked to register upon arrival and wait in an overflow area or their vehicles if they wish to speak. Instructions for providing public comment will be given during the appropriate public comment speaking period. COVID-19 protocols will be adhered to, including 6’ social distancing, wearing a face mask, submitting to a temperature check, and answering COVID-19 related questions.

To attend in person an RSVP is required. Please email RSVP@ouc.com with your name, address, and number of guests.

In addition, you may submit written comments to publiccomments@ouc.com prior to 12:00 Noon on November 17. A copy of all written comments received by the noon deadline will be provided to the Commissioners and included in the meeting records.

WebEx attendance is strongly encouraged at the following link:

https://ouc-meeting-place.webex.com/ouc-meeting-place/onstage/g.php?MTID=ee1ffb5774f3bcc45f84afd5e36fc632b

Password: eirpworkshop

Call-in number: 1-408-418-9388

Access code: 173 009 9227

OUC Announces Plan to End Coal-Fired Generation

Download Spanish language translation

Public Workshop will be held November 17

ORLANDO, FL – Management at Orlando Utilities Commission (OUC – The Reliable One) released its recommendation to significantly reduce the use of coal no later than 2025, eliminating it no later than 2027. The result of the utility’s Electric Integrated Resource Plan (EIRP) process supports its strategic plan for Net Zero CO2 Emissions by 2050 goal, as well as interim targets of 50% CO2 emissions reduction by 2030 and 75% by 2040 . Using solar as the main source of new energy, OUC will also invest in energy storage and other clean technologies to ensure reliability and resiliency are maintained.

After gathering input from multiple community forums and a four-month-long online survey period, the Advisory Council – a 12-member, independent group representing Orange County, the City of Orlando and the City of St. Cloud – was responsible for ranking four key attributes – Affordability, Reliability, Resiliency and Sustainability – and determining how they should be weighted when scoring potential energy portfolios.

The recommendation strikes a balance, allowing achievement of OUC’s goal of Net Zero CO2 Emissions by 2050, while directionally aligning with City of Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer’s 2017 aspirational proclamation to achieve 100% renewable energy generation by 2050. Specifically, OUC will:

• End coal-fired generation. The plan calls for significantly reducing coal-fired generation no later than 2025 and eliminating it no later than 2027, using coal-to-natural gas conversion as a technology bridge. Both converted units will ultimately be retired no later than 2040.
• Accelerate solar and energy storage as primary strategies. To allow for the acceleration of these resources and overcome the challenges of cloud cover and partly sunny days, energy storage technologies will be used to maintain reliability. OUC will continue to monitor cost and performance developments for new and existing clean technologies, such as hydrogen and small modular reactors.
• Leverage future clean technologies to ensure diversity for reliability. The recommendation provides a roadmap to diversify the utility’s generation by incorporating technologies, such as wind-by-wire generation, to greatly reduce dependency on solar and storage.
• Strive to maintain competitive rates for customers while achieving strategic goals. Advancements of this magnitude require significant investments. However, the recommendation delivers the best value.

“For nearly a century, OUC has provided reliable, affordable essential electric and water services to our customers,” said Clint Bullock, General Manager & CEO. “As we evolve to deliver clean energy and value to our customers, we’ve made significant investments in innovative, sustainable solutions. This EIRP energy roadmap – which is the result of a comprehensive, sophisticated analysis – will allow us to meet the critical Net Zero CO2 Emissions by 2050 goal, as well as interim targets of 50% CO2 emissions reduction by 2030 and 75% by 2040 as we move toward a cleaner, greener future.”

OUC remains committed to public feedback throughout the EIRP process. The public is invited to attend a workshop on November 17, 2020 at 2 p.m., to further discuss this process and its results.

The results of the EIRP will be approved by the Board at a later date. In the future, EIRPs will be considered every five years moving forward as technology and economic conditions change.

Siemens PTI supported the development of the EIRP and evaluated the list of energy portfolio options for the utility to consider. Essence Partners led the strategy for stakeholder engagement and facilitated that process.