What was the role of the mayor and city government in creating the Energy Fund? 

Mayors Sheldon and Hieftje have shown consistent support for the energy policy and programs of the City. It is the Mayor’s responsibility to appoint, with Council approval, the members of the City’s Energy Commission. Commission members include representatives from the public utilities, architects and engineers with a strong interest in energy issues, business representatives, and homeowners. The Energy Commission developed the concept for the Municipal Energy Fund.

When the idea for a Municipal Energy Fund was first presented to Council, Mayor Sheldon strongly supported it, recognizing the potential to save valuable tax dollars as well as precious energy resources. Mayor Sheldon demonstrated a thorough knowledge of the energy issues faced by her community and was a driving force behind moving Ann Arbor towards a more sustainable energy future.

The Ann Arbor Energy Office transformed the Municipal Energy Fund from a concept to a reality. The Energy Office is charged with implementing programs and policies consistent with the Ann Arbor Energy Plan, which includes providing support for the Energy Commission. The Commission-initiated Fund is used strictly for municipal programs aimed at improving energy efficiency at municipal facilities. However, the Energy Plan calls for the City to lead by example, and this type of fund should be feasible for many local businesses who own and operate a large number of facilities.

The Fund is managed by the Energy Office and is overseen by a three-member board appointed by the City’s Environmental Management Team. The Energy Office provides the board with information from energy audits along with applications from facility managers for projects requesting energy funds. The board reviews all applications and makes final decisions on what projects to fund each year. Decisions are based on energy saving potential, improvement of the facility environment, and educational or demonstrational value of the project. The Energy Office then implements the projects, often serving as the project manager.