Clean Energy Advisory Committee May 11, 2026

The Clean Energy Advisory Committee of the City of Wilmington convened on May 11, 2026, to discuss energy efficiency assessments and related budget considerations for two major city facilities: the Skyline Center and the police headquarters. The committee reviewed detailed reports from Advanced Energy, Duke Energy's vendor, highlighting potential energy conservation measures (ECMs) with favorable return on investment, including recommissioning building controls and LED lighting upgrades. The committee debated the timing and funding mechanisms for implementing these ECMs, emphasizing the importance of submitting a formal recommendation to city council to allocate or earmark funds, potentially from the operations and maintenance budget, for these projects in the upcoming fiscal year. They passed a motion to draft a letter supporting these ECMs, excluding photovoltaic solar projects due to poor payback periods, to be presented to city council promptly. Additionally, the committee briefly reviewed a municipal fleet electric vehicle (EV) transition study, noting the significant capital investment required and the need for strategic planning around EV infrastructure and backup power systems. The meeting concluded with updates on a road plan dashboard and plans for future communications and recommendations to city leadership.