Small towns and big cities across the country are addressing the urgency of climate change with climate action plans. Whether driven by elected officials, state or federal mandates, and/or community demand, your public works department will play a role in implementation. This session will focus on the opportunities for public works professionals to learn more about and leverage strategic partnerships with utilities to support efforts like building, vehicle electrification, and solar use. Collaborating with utilities offers opportunities to tap their data and technical expertise, funding, and ready access to the public. To establish that valuable utility relationship, it’s critical that we understand how utilities operate and the role they can play in faster, more effective pursuit of climate goals. In this session, representatives from the City of Ann Arbor, Michigan, the Town of Danvers, Massachusetts, and CPS Energy in San Antonio, Texas, will discuss their successful local government-utility partnerships and the best practices they have used to drive collaboration in climate action plan implementation. Panelists will dive into the fundamentals of substation needs, power generation, grid capacity and resilience, and enhancing incentive programs and data access. Participants will receive a handout that includes utility collaboration best practices on a spectrum from basic to innovative to help inform their efforts to collaborate with utilities.
After this session, participants will be better able to:
• Explain the function of utilities in their communities and how they operate in relation to local government climate goals and public works responsibilities.
• Recognize the role of public works professionals in driving climate projects such as EV charging, solar, and building electrification.
• Apply key principles and best practices to pursue collaborations with their utilities to implement climate projects more effectively through data analysis, program development and deployment, and targeted outreach.
Contributor/Source
Angela Rodriguez-Managing Principal Sustainability & Grants, Jeff Elie-Energy Resource Manager, Kim Lundgren-CEO, Missy Stults-Sustainability and Innovations Director
Claim CEUs
Submit this form to claim CEUs.
Related Resources
Proficiency Levels
Introductory
Focuses on a general or broad overview of the topic, awareness of basic factual recall. Limited experience of the subject matter is necessary to understand content areas.
Applied
Focuses on practical implementation of technical steps or strategies, some prior knowledge and experience of the topic is necessary.
Advanced
Mastery of basic concepts associated with an area has been obtained. Focuses on understanding nuances, advanced concepts, and intricacies with implementation within knowledge area. Strong understanding of how the concept impacts other factors or areas of operations.
Program Types
CLL
Click, Listen & Learn (CLL) are interactive educational webinars. Each program is led by top experts in the field who share new ideas, methods, and technologies in a fast-paced two-hour time frame. These programs are available free to APWA members. CLL programs are eligible for continuing education units (CEUs).
Primer
Primers are used to educate policymakers about public works roles and responsibilities in public rights of way, the impact of federal workforce development policies on the industry and workforce, and the importance of resilient infrastructure.
Public Works Radio Podcast
Public Works Radio is the official podcast of the American Public Works Association (APWA), bringing the stories behind our communities to life. This podcast shines a spotlight on the people and projects that keep our cities running—humanizing the work and the professionals who make it happen. Each episode dives into a wide range of topics designed to educate and inspire, making public works more visible to everyone.
PWX
PWX session recordings cover a wide variety of topics, including integrating modes of transportation, traffic and transit, construction management, emergency management, engineering and technology, fleet and facilities, management, parks and grounds, snow and ice control, and stormwater/flood control, as well as solid waste, roads and bridges and water/wastewater. PWX sessions are eligible for continuing education units (CEUs).
Reporter Articles
APWA Reporter articles are written by public works practitioners on subjects such as solid waste management, water resources, municipal engineering, transportation, equipment services, buildings and grounds, snow removal, and other public works-related topics.
Snow
The Snow Conference session recordings feature public works professionals sharing the latest best practices in managing winter/snow operations more successfully, taking advantage of emerging technologies, understanding and preparing for the challenges ahead, and providing better service to their communities. Snow sessions are eligible for continuing education units (CEUs).
Tech Boxes
A tech box is a PDF take-away that provides information in lists, steps, or defined areas specifically focused on trending technologies.
Virtual Program
Virtual programs are live, interactive educational programs led by top experts in the field who provide timely information or address trending topics within an area. Programs often conclude with an open forum for Q&A.