From Aging City to Industrial Leader

The local newspaper reports on Hamilton, Ontario's energy-related advances and challenges in the light of author Daniel Lerch's presentation there on "Post Carbon Cities".

Though Hamilton has aging infrastructure, its leadership in energy issues earned it a case study in Daniel Lerch's book, Post Carbon Cities. "[Lerch] is encouraged by signs that Hamilton is looking seriously at an economic blueprint less dependent on oil. In his view, Hamilton has set an example among municipalities in tackling energy and air-quality concerns since the oil crises of the 1970s." More recently, the city's concern about energy was brought to the fore in 2003 by citizen concerns over the long-term utility of a proposed "aerotropolis" in light of future energy uncertainty.

The city is taking a multi-pronged approach to becoming more energy-efficient, including updating the city's fleet and changes in the transit system. Their plan also "includes measures such as a new energy office, making Hamilton one of four cities in Ontario that have one."

"In November, council endorsed a corporate energy policy calling for a 20 per cent cut in the energy intensity of city-owned facilities and operations by 2020." Note that that's energy intensity, not use: "Energy intensity refers to a process of using a common benchmark over a specific time frame. By measuring intensity rather than straight energy reductions, planners can account for additions or deletions in the city's building stock, building expansions, and seasonal weather changes."