CITY of ALBUQUERQUE
TWENTY FOURTH COUNCIL
COUNCIL BILL NO. R-20-89 ENACTMENT NO. ________________________
SPONSORED BY: Klarissa J. Peña
RESOLUTION
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Creating A Grace Period For The Implementation Of The 2018 International Energy Conservation Code; And Designating Fiscal Year 2021 Appropriations To Provide For An Energy Efficiency Retrofit Assistance Program For Low Income Households (Peña)
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CREATING A GRACE PERIOD FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE 2018 INTERNATIONAL ENERGY CONSERVATION CODE; AND DESIGNATING FISCAL YEAR 2021 APPROPRIATIONS TO PROVIDE FOR AN ENERGY EFFICIENCY RETROFIT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM FOR LOW INCOME HOUSEHOLDS.
WHEREAS, on August 3rd the City of Albuquerque adopted the 2018 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) to replace their 2009 version of the IECC via O-20-12; and
WHEREAS, this code was adopted without a grace period; and
WHEREAS, builders who are currently designing projects under the 2009 IECC may not be aware that their projects now need to be designed to the 2018 IECC standard; and
WHEREAS, a grace period will allow builders time to adapt to the new code requirements; and
WHEREAS, there will be cost savings over time related to energy efficiency for a home built to the 2018 IECC standard in terms of utility bills; and
WHEREAS, Nationwide, low-income households spend a much greater share of their income on energy utility bills, referred to as “energy burden.” In New Mexico, low-income households below the federal poverty level (FPL) pay an average of 13% of their income towards energy utility bills. Households that pay more than 12% of income on utility bills are referred to as being in “energy poverty”; and
WHEREAS, some New Mexico counties, including Bernalillo County, have census tracts where the average low-income or middle-income family has an energy burden of over 18%; and
WHEREAS, Federal cash assistance programs available for qualifying low-income households to pay their energy bills (Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program) and to complete weatherization improvements (Energy$mart Program) only address a fraction of the problem; and
WHEREAS, the inability for low income households to make energy efficiency improvements and reduce utility bill costs can result in increased vulnerability to foreclosure or necessity to sell the home, opening the path for possible gentrification in these neighborhoods; and
WHEREAS, a recent survey of 50 households in the South Valley of Albuquerque showed that that sixty-five percent of the surveyed households reported having to choose between paying their energy bill and paying for basic needs like food, medicine, transportation, health care or childcare; and
WHEREAS, ninety percent of the South Valley households surveyed expressed interest in being engaged in clean energy and affordable energy access and the same percentage indicated that they were interested in home repairs and energy efficiency; and 70% saw solar energy as an opening for new economic opportunity and job creation; and
WHEREAS, a grace period will allow the development community to adapt to the new requirements.
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL, THE GOVERNING BODY OF THE CITY OF ALBUQUERQUE:
SECTION 1. GRACE PERIOD. The 2018 International Energy Conservation Code shall be implemented with a grace period until March 2021; during which time the Planning Department shall continue to consider requests for building permits under the requirements of the 2018 International Energy Conservation Code, or the 2009 International Energy Conservation Code with its previously adopted City UAC amendments.
SECTION 2. ENERGY EFFICIENCY RETROFIT PROGRAM. That the amount of $100,000 is designated from a combination of Council Services General Fund appropriations and CARES Act funding in the Operating Grants Fund (265) for Fiscal Year 2021, as determined appropriate and allowable, for the purpose of providing contractual funding for a Low Income Energy Efficiency Retrofit program.