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C. Assets, Opportunities, and Barriers <br />In developing an action plan, energy-related assets, opportunities, and barriers in <br />Pleasanton were explored: <br />- Assets include the technically sophisticated and highly educated local populace; <br />local organizations; local schools; local media; local energy businesses; local <br />builders; receptive City, State, and Federal leadership; nearby governments and <br />agencies with experience; professional and trade schools and organizations; and <br />the City of Pleasanton's financial management skills. <br />- Opportunities include Pleasanton's sunny climate; the "green building"/"smart <br />houses" movement; interest in distributed generation, fuel cells, and <br />photovoltaics; wind energy resources located in the Altamont Pass; government <br />bonding capacity; regional alliances; organizations providing free/low-cost <br />technical consulting services; grants; private financing opportunities; an educated <br />citizenry that draws private investment; new cost models that consider <br />externalities; and incubation programs for renewable energy projects. <br />- Barriers include those that are opposed to technological change; bureaucracy; <br />utility and regulatory obstacles; public's resistance to perceived cost increases; <br />political considerations; private energy suppliers and providers; government staff; <br />State and Federal government energy policies; regulatory and legislative <br />uncertainties; lack of knowledge about existing programs; existing subsidies that <br />are not aligned with local goals; and time limits on rebates. <br />For a detailed, expanded list of assets, opportunities, and barriers see Attachment C. <br />D. Imalementation <br />An energy action plan is proposed in section E (below). EAG recognizes that further <br />development and planning is required before a specific action plan item can be <br />implemented. To serve this purpose, an interim, ad-hoc Energy Committee shall be <br />created by the City Council who will further develop plans and recommendations for <br />implementation. Implementation plans developed by the Committee shall include a <br />scope of work, schedule, and budget. Priorities shall be set by the Council through its <br />priority setting/CIP process in March/June of 2003 and 2004. The Committee would <br />have a chairperson and vice chairperson elected by the Committee, would hold advertised <br />public meetings, and would prepare meeting minutes. City staff would be available to <br />assist the Committee in terms of meeting logistics and coordination, preparation of <br />meeting packets (agenda, minutes, and background reports), and professional support. <br />The Energy Committee shall meet approximately once a month and shall work under the <br />City Manager's and Council's direction for two years. After two years, the City Council <br />shall revisit the Committee's activities and consider extending the life of the Committee <br />Page 4 <br />