The notable role of planners in community energy plans

Abstract

This Master’s report analyzes CEPs in two Ontario communities through the lens of a planner, to investigate the role of professional planners in developing these plans. This study will identify the key elements of CEPs, as related to the planner’s role, with the following specific objectives: • Identifying the role of the planner in creating the CEP • Recognizing how land use planning terms and concepts, such as land use, neighbourhoods, transportation and buildings, are incorporated into the documents • Highlighting how planners are contributing to plan implementation • Exploring opportunities and limitations to integrate energy considerations into the practice of professional planners Using a comparative case study approach, this report consists of a literature review, CEP document analysis and interviews with municipal planners and project leads associated with the case study’s CEPs. The case studies include two large cities with CEPs in place that emphasize land use as a determinate of energy usage, London and Windsor, Ontario. CEPs provide an opportunity to incorporate energy planning into the municipal decision-making process to build more efficient, and more sustainable communities. This study is meant to inspire the planning profession to expand its role further into energy planning and to better understand how planners are to work with an increasingly popular, comprehensive form of energy planning.