HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC WS PACKET 03252025CITY OF SAINT ANTHONY VILLAGE
WORKSESSION AGENDA
Tuesday, May 25, 2025 at 5:30PM
Members of the public who wish to attend the meeting may do so in person.
Minutes
Approval Of CC WS Meeting Minutes
CC WS 03 -11 -2025.PDF
CC WS 03 -12 -2025 PARKS SUMMIT.PDF
Worksession Topics
Partners In Energy
Megan Weck, Partners in Energy Community Facilitator, presenting.
COVER MEMO.PDF
PRESENTATION.PDF
ENERGY ACTION PLAN.PDF
Future Worksession Dates, Times And Agenda Items
Future Agenda Items
FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS.PDF
Adjournment
If you would like to request special accommodations or alternative formats, please contact the City
Clerk at 612 -782 -3313 or email city@savmn.com . People who are deaf or hard of hearing can
contact us by using 711 Relay.
Our Mission is to promote a high quality of life to those we serve through
outstanding city services.
1.
A.
Documents:
2.
A.
Documents:
3.
A.
Documents:
4.
CITY OF SAINT ANTHONY VILLAGEWORKSESSION AGENDATuesday, May 25, 2025 at 5:30PMMembers of the public who wish to attend the meeting may do so in person. MinutesApproval Of CC WS Meeting MinutesCC WS 03 -11 -2025.PDFCC WS 03 -12 -2025 PARKS SUMMIT.PDFWorksession TopicsPartners In EnergyMegan Weck, Partners in Energy Community Facilitator, presenting.COVER MEMO.PDFPRESENTATION.PDFENERGY ACTION PLAN.PDFFuture Worksession Dates, Times And Agenda ItemsFuture Agenda ItemsFUTURE AGENDA ITEMS.PDFAdjournmentIf you would like to request special accommodations or alternative formats, please contact the City Clerk at 612 -782 -3313 or email city@savmn.com . People who are deaf or hard of hearing can contact us by using 711 Relay.
Our Mission is to promote a high quality of life to those we serve through
outstanding city services.
1.A.Documents:2.A.Documents:3.A.Documents:4.
City of St. Anthony
CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION
Minutes
March 11, 2025
Present:
Mayor & Council:
Mayor Wendy Webster, Councilmembers Lona Doolan, Nadia Elnagdy, Jan Jenson and Thomas Randle.
Absent:
None.
Staff:
City Manager Charlie Yunker, Assistant City Manager Ashley Morello, City Code Official Richard Sonterre,
and City Planner Steve Grittman.
Others:
Call to Order:
Mayor Wendy Webster called the Work Session to order at 5:30 p.m.
1. Approval of CC WS Meeting Minutes
A. February 25, 2025 City Council Work Session Minutes
Motion by Councilmember Jenson, seconded by Councilmember Doolan, to approve City Council Work
Session Minutes of February 25, 2025 as presented.
Motion carried 5-0.
2. Work Session Topics
A. Sale of Cannabinoids Derived from Hemp.
City Code Official Richard Sonterre reviewed at the January 14, 2025 City Council Work Session, staff
presented the Council with proposed language amending Section 117-16 – Sale of Cannabinoids Derived
from Hemp. The Council directed staff to investigate how the proposed language compared to
neighboring municipalities and to include a direct link within the language identifying required age
compliance checks.
Following the Council’s direction, staff investigated the ordinance language from Fridley, Spring Lake
Park, Shoreview and Roseville. The discussion with the Roseville Community Development Director
brought to light a course of action that none of the other cities, including St. Anthony had considered. At
the direction of their legal counsel, Roseville did not create any language for the sale of cannabinoids
derived from hemp. This decision was based on the legal opinion that the State Office of Cannabis
Management (OCM), upon establishing a policy on Cannabis sales, would be taking over all aspects of
cannabis sales throughout the state, including cannabinoids derived from hemp.
Subsequent to the information provided by Roseville, staff engaged OCM to seek confirmation or denial
of the Roseville position and verified it to be accurate. Per an email response from OCM, once the office
begins licensing, the role of local governments in the cannabis and hemp licensing process is detailed in
March 11, 2025 St. Anthony Council Work Session - 2
Minnesota Statutes Section 342.13 and 342.22. At that point, local governments will issue local retail
registrations to businesses with cannabis and hemp businesses licenses issued by OCM.
Staff is recommending that the Council take no action to amend Section 117.16 as previously proposed.
Staff will continue to monitor the actions and directives that OCM implements specific to Minnesota
Statutes Section 342-13 and 342.22 and when appropriate, present language to Council eliminating the
requirements for local licensing.
Councilmember Randle stated the Council had not decided this was something they wanted to do. It was
not a Council decision. We were under the assumption that Council could control who got licenses
within the City. Mr. Sonterre stated that since the Office of Cannabis Management will handle licensing
for THC and Cannabis sales. Cities have control over distances and numbers of licenses. Vendors still
need to meet other code requirements of the City.
Mayor Webster stated a year and a half ago, Council was trying to determine how to handle retailers
who want to sell THC-based products to sell edibles (for those with a tobacco license), and if they had a
liquor license they could serve THC-infused products.
Councilmember Jenson stated Council has control in that they can establish locations but in restaurants
10 mg products can be sold. He asked if edibles could be sold in restaurants also. Mr. Sonterre stated
tobacco retailers could sell edibles. The question is can they sell liquid-based products. Councilmember
Jenson asked if a restaurant could sell beverages and Mr. Sonterre stated they could but they could not
sell edibles.
Councilmember Doolan asked when the takeover will occur. Mr. Sonterre stated they will be rolling out
the cannabis licenses first, and the THC products afterwards, possibly September.
Councilmember Jenson asked if we can continue to do business as normal and Mr. Sonterre stated yes
at the locations where they are currently being sold.
Ordinance 2025-02 – General Code Updates
City Planner Steve Grittman reviewed that the ordinance provided presents a series of proposed code
amendments for consideration and discussion. These have been generated primarily through a review of
the existing (and recodified) City Code. The Planning Commission held a public hearing on the zoning
items, but this list includes both zoning and general city code amendments for review prior to final
adoption. Many of these are thought to be clerical, but some policy issues are raised. The code sections
modified were provided for Council review in the form of Ordinance 2025-02.
The Sections were reviewed one at a time with Council comments noted.
Section 1 – This clause enables the City to set an appropriate penalty fee as a part of the City’s fee
schedule, which is typically adopted and updated on an annual basis.
Section 2 – The text of the definition does not change, with the exception that a clause is added to
clarify that retaining walls must meet the requirements of other fences, consistent with current practice.
Section 3 – This change updates the City’s recently adopted natural landscape language (from 2023) to
be consistent with the even more recently adopted State statutory language from 2024. Councilmember
March 11, 2025 St. Anthony Council Work Session - 3
Doolan noted pollinator garden language was switched to current language and there was mention of
pesticide usage. This should have further discussion. The statement regarding pesticides should be
included in the general standards. The consensus of the Council was to keep.
Section 4 – This change also relates to the natural landscapes language, removing the current
prohibition from planting such landscapes in the right of way, as the City has sponsored these types of
alternative gardens, and modifying the maximum height of such materials, increasing it from 12-18
inches, also consistent with the 2024 state statutory language for managed natural landscapes.
Councilmember Doolan asked about gardens planted as part of the pollinator pathways, if they would
be grandfathered in if they did not meet the new requirements. Mr. Grittman suggested a clause be
added that neighboring owners can create a joint garden. Councilmember Elnagdy suggested “this is not
a retroactive amendment” so those gardens in place can remain. There is not a way of proving when the
garden was established. There may be issues if one of the joint garden property owners sells.
Section 5 – This change deletes reference to the City’s Health Officer, which is not a designated office in
the City. Councilmember Elnagdy referred to the first sentence in the section. Mr. Grittman will add a
comma after “two dogs,”. He will also strike “of the City” after sanitarians.
Section 6 – This change deletes reference to the City’s Health Officer, which is not a designated office in
the City.
Section 7 & 8 – This section redefines for temporary storage specific to residential uses, then limits size
to 128 square feet, whereas industrial shipping containers are usually a minimum of 320 square feet. A
temporary storage POD is able to be used.
Section 9 – This section initially provided for a change to the removal of illegal signage by the City,
irrespective of the type and location of such signage. Staff is still discussing some additional background,
which will be brought to a future work session or meeting for consideration.
Section 10 & 11 – This section addresses transient merchants and peddlers. Staff proposes deletion of
this City licensing/regulatory requirement to eliminate overlap and clarify regulatory responsibilities.
The City portion licensing would be eliminated and handled by the County. Mayor Webster asked if the
City can set some timeframes for vendors? Mr. Grittman stated the City can have regulations set that
would need to be complied with. Councilmember Doolan stated she would prefer keeping the local
ordinances in case there were issues and Police needed to become involved. If we just use County
control, are we giving up some safeguarding that may be better to be kept local. A resident had asked if
door to door peddlers can stop at dark. Mr. Grittman stated the hours can be changed. Councilmember
Elnagdy asked if there is a cost savings to remove City requirements. Mr. Grittman stated there is really
no cost savings. Mayor Webster asked for an explanation of the current process when a peddler comes
to the City for licenses. Mr. Yunker stated the issue is if the City has authority if the County has issued a
license. Councilmember Jenson asked how a peddler would find out what the City hours are and Mr.
Yunker stated the information is there. Councilmember Randle stated it is a moot point. The solicitors
are not going to come to the City to ask what the restrictions are. Councilmember Doolan stated her
concern is accessibility of data by Police. Would they have the same access to County regulations? Mr.
Yunker stated the vendors should have the license with them when soliciting. Mr. Sonterre stated he has
researched the County regulations and they are more restrictive than those currently in St. Anthony. He
is the one that receives the calls from residents. He will verify if they come to the City to ask for licenses.
The City’s language duplicates the County’s restrictions. He suggests education would be beneficial.
Mayor Webster suggested it would be good to add hours of operation and encourage community
March 11, 2025 St. Anthony Council Work Session - 4
members to ask to see the County license for soliciting. Councilmember Jenson referred to Section B and
assumes kids selling Girl Scout cookies do not need a license. Mr. Grittman stated they most likely
would as all solicitors are handled the same. Anyone who is soliciting would need a County license to do
so. This is an enforcement issue when the solicitors are less than welcome. The consensus of the Council
was to add a timeframe to the Code. Mr. Grittman will research and suggest timeframe language.
Section 12 & 13 – There are several sections of the code dealing with enforcement, and that refers to
the Code “Enforcement” Official. This language will be replaced with the revised title Code “Compliance”
Official. The current zoning language has a number of sections that refer to “permitted” activities. Many
of these are more accurately rendered as “allowed” activities.
Section 14 – Recreational Fires. This section makes changes to recreational burning in the following
ways, in response to Fire Department recommendations and recent experiences with recreational fires
in the community. Councilmember Doolan asked if #5 and #9 are the same language. Mr. Grittman
stated that it will be corrected. She noted wood smoke can be linked to heart attacks. She asked if there
should be a conditional restriction. Councilmember Elnagdy referred to the bee ordinance and could an
allowance be made for a documented medical condition within a certain distance. Councilmember
Randle asked if anyone has ever complained about this before. Mayor Webster stated she has heard
from some residents who were affected by neighboring wood fires. Mr. Yunker stated he has heard of
some complaints. Mayor Webster asked if a resident needed a permit each time they were to have a
fire. Mr. Yunker stated the permits are annual. Mayor Webster asked if when applying for an annual fire
permit, could we require permission from neighbors that no medical conditions are present.
Councilmember Randle noted good neighbors talk to each other. It is difficult to tell residents what they
can and cannot do on their property. Councilmember Doolan stated smoke is more important to restrict
than if a neighbor is playing music too loud. Councilmember Jenson feels the revisions to the ordinance
provided are sufficient. Mayor Webster stated she has heard about other residents having issues with
odor control. Mayor Webster suggested neighbors speak to each other. Councilmember Doolan
questioned why we allow full year permits. Councilmember Elnagdy suggested we monitor how this
coming season goes and modify the Code further if necessary.
Section 15 – Nuisance Noise. This section modifies the recently adopted language to set a noise decibel
level at the property line, rather than a distance measurement. Councilmember Jenson noted 55
decibels is not very loud. Councilmember Doolan asked if a warning is given first by the Police. Mr.
Sonterre stated 55 decibels came from a 2012 study done indicating what noise pollution was. They
operate on compliance and education. Councilmember Doolan asked if 10:00 p.m. – 7:00 a.m. is
standard and Mr. Grittman stated it is.
Section 16 – Dangerous Dogs. This section is proposed to be updated to add definitions for various
terms used in the text of the existing code (and make one statutory reference update). These definitions
are drawn largely from statute, and/or from representative ordinances in nearby communities.
Section 17 – Temporary “For Rent” Signs on Rental Property. This update adds a category of temporary
sign to allow residential property owners to display a notice during times when they are actively
attempting to rent a dwelling unit.
Future Agenda Items:
Councilmember Randle stated at a future work session, he would like to discuss the former Bremer Bank
site with updates provided. Councilmember Doolan asked to include information on the Conditional
Uses on that property.
March 11, 2025 St. Anthony Council Work Session - 5
March 25 – Work Session – Partners in Energy Action Plan Review.
Adjournment:
The meeting adjourned at 6:42 p.m.
1
City of St. Anthony
Joint Work Session – “Park Summit”
Minutes
MARCH 12, 2025
Present:
Mayor & Council: Mayor Wendy Webster, Councilmembers Jan Jenson, Lona Doolan, Nadia
Elnagdy
Parks & Environmental Commission: Chair Lily Fee, Commissioners Jessica Swiontek, Kristen
Peterson, Yaacoub Hark
Staff: Charlie Yunker, Ashley Morello, Minette Saulog
Guests: Troy Urdahl, Mark Gibbs, Mary-Clare Johnsen (School District); TK Kuykendall, Lane
Belling (Sports Boosters); Maggie Chandler (Community Services)
Absent:
Councilmember Thomas Randle, Parks Commissioner Natalie Synhavsky
Call to Order:
Mayor Wendy Webster called the Work Session to order at 6:03 p.m.
MEETING MINUTES
After introductions from all in the room, City Manager Yunker provided a brief overview of the
current status and usage of Saint Anthony Village parks. The City’s park system was built to
support organized sports and activities for children (i.e. playground equipment). The purpose of
the work session was to convene various stakeholders that use city parks with city leadership to
initiate discussions on how to collaborate for future park usage and evolve to meet the
community’s needs.
Maps of Silver Point, Central and Emerald Parks were provided to attendees as visual aids for
discussing the main city parks and their current uses and amenities. The below summarizes
main discussion points and themes discussed by attendees.
General Comments About SAV Parks
- The coordination for park uses between the City, School District, Community Services,
and Sports Boosters is observed to be more effective in SAV compared to other
communities.
2
- The city is essentially at max for green space and there is no way to make more without
getting rid of existing built environments.
- Wilshire Park, not officially part of the city park system, is also fully utilized by sports.
- Is there a broader need for our parks besides Boosters activity?
- Community Services prioritizes use by city groups/teams and will prioritize those rentals
and space reservations over requests from non-city groups.
- Is it possible to survey land in the city to generate a list of what green space/square
footage exists that is property of the city?
Sports Boosters
- Boosters serves students that enroll in school district; this has been their charter since
the ‘60s. The school district is no longer open enrollment, but students in the private
schools (e.g. St. Charles) and living in another city are still considered in-district based on
their school enrollment. It is rare to have someone living in surrounding suburbs to
register for our program.
- Club soccer and Boosters soccer has been growing over the years, baseball and softball
program size is relatively the same.
- Boosters finds ways to make things work but can’t lose any space.
- The baseball program utilizes all the parks but is now at maximum capacity and unable
to add more teams. Currently there are around 23 baseball teams, 15 softball teams.
- Boosters has historically given money to the city and school district to support
improvements to facilities/spaces and for maintenance costs.
- Kids will practice soccer in the drainage on north end of Central Park if they have to;
every inch of green space is used.
School District
- School district doesn’t use Emerald or Silver Point for sports. They use Central and
Wilshire Park for soccer. Football is done in their football field. The lacrosse teams are
merged with Totino Grace; boys practice at Central and girls practice at Totino Grace.
Games are played at both schools.
- 75% participation rates at the high school for athletics, significant demonstrated use in
community.
- District is still at the point of overused. They have tried to add turf, move fields, rotate
fields usage, and it is still difficult to keep up. Turf has made a large difference in field
usability – “turf is how we get more land.”
- School district does a comprehensive study on who their programs serve (including
athletics), it has a good representation of the student body and demonstrates equity in
service delivery of programs.
3
Ice Rinks
- Is it possible to leverage the areas set aside for ice rinks for other use(s) when it is not
ice season? Since the ice boards stay up year-round, PEC has talked about using them as
borders for pickleball if they aren’t used for another sport (namely at Central Park
location).
- The discussion of how many ice rinks the city needs goes back several decades. Now it is
a resident expectation even if we don’t need all the ice rinks.
- Boosters has been trying to grow hockey but there is no formal SAV team yet. Kids in the
city play hockey through Mounds View.
- Public Works has rink attendants do rough counts for usage, but they aren’t exact
numbers. This also raises the question of what is the cutoff for usage being “enough”?
- The ice rinks are used for recreation (one hockey and one skating rink at each park). We
get requests to reserve ice sheets and reject those requests. Some kids that play hockey
elsewhere may use it for practice, but they are not being practiced on by an
organized/school hockey team.
- There are many nights where ice rinks are not used regularly, but when conditions are
good for ice there are lots of people using the rinks.
- There are warming weather trends, and the window may be getting shorter for having
outdoor ice. Last winter, PW crews worked overtime to make ice that only lasted a week.
- A suggestion was made for refrigerated ice rinks that could be a paved court in the
summertime. These types of rinks are more climate resilient and exist in other cities but
very cost prohibitive.
- There is a sense that maybe it is time to consolidate from 3 to 2 ice rink locations,
especially if we don’t have a St. Anthony team. All the rink locations provide
convenience but with lower usage/participation is that necessary?
o Emerald Park could be kept to maintain northern amenities, Central Park is
centrally located, removing ice at Silver Point Park could make way for other
amenities there…
Silver Point Park
- This park was intended to be a water retention and drainage area first. Amenities came
later.
- Major issues at this park are a lack of parking and safety concerns.
- 29th Ave is an unsafe area for kids to walk through with so many cars and traffic around,
street parking still gets congested and cars block neighbors in their driveways.
- Parking has been an issue for decades.
4
- T-ball teams, machine ball teams, Boosters softball, and St. Charles softball play at this
park. The 2nd field is usually underwater and unusable in the spring resulting in
canceled/delayed games.
- However, making the 2nd field more usable will result in further parking problems.
- There are people doing drop-off/pick-up, and people trying to park. The current lot
configuration does not have a separate outlet for cars dropping off kids. A suggestion
was made to create a one-way loop through the current grassy area towards the ice rink
boards for drop-offs and pick-ups, separating that section from parking. This would
displace the ice rink area here and remove an option for relocating field #2 to a less-
flood prone area.
- The playground at this park is ADA compliant but is difficult to access on busy days.
- A comment was made that the city needs to avoid solving for a Boosters problem that
may be attributed to scheduling, etc.
Central Park
- Some fields have artificial turf which has helped take pressure off of maintaining grass
condition.
- Available and open on the weekends for unorganized sport activity. Sometimes
unorganized sports will occasionally use the space during the week.
- This is the most difficult park to change usage/amenities for, as the space already has a
delicate balance between city usage, sports usage, district usage (plus maintenance).
Emerald Park
- Emerald Park is essentially at max for organized sports activity considering the parking
capacity and direct adjacency to neighboring homes.
- Playground is not ADA compliant – future opportunity? It would be easier to add
handicap spots and more easily accessible (but would change the parking configuration)
Other Amenities
- The skateboard park is used often by kids after school kids. This is likely a different group
of kids than those who participate in sports.
- Basketball courts are underutilized due to bad condition, regardless of whether full or
half-court. Having a level basketball court with lines and better overall condition would
increase usage.
- Wilshire Park has an ADA compliant playground with squishy rubber, as well as a good
basketball court.
- Warming houses used for ice rinks store pitching machines in the summer.
Pickleball
5
- The current pickleball facility is at Well House Park, an old single tennis court that was
re-lined into two pickleball courts. This court surface has safety issues and major
cracking that would need to be redone.
- Adjacent to a green space where benches can be added.
- Residents by the lake like having a city amenity north of 37th Ave.
- The reason pickleball is not allowed at the main city tennis courts is that coaches
requested this when the facility was re-done. (There was one pilot summer where
temporary pickleball lines were placed but this did not continue.) Tennis courts are
currently at capacity between popular public use and school use. They are popular
enough that people come from other cities to use these courts due to the night-time
lights allowing them to remain open until at least 10 pm.
Potential Dog Park
- How do we determine what is officially a “park” and can the city embrace the concept of
pocket parks, especially for a possible dog park?
- There are several examples in other cities of dog parks that are much smaller than 1
acre.
- Central Park has many off-leash dogs already, is this because there isn’t anywhere else to
take them? Would they use a dog park instead if it were available?
- The Pahl neighborhood parcel could be considered for a temporary or pilot dog park.
The area is currently used as a space of neighborhood kids and informal activity.
- There were conversations a long time ago about leasing space in NE Minneapolis or New
Brighton for a dog park, but residents are wanting a dog park within city borders.
- A dog park the size of the ice rink will only serve a certain type of dog and may result in
the city offering something that will not meet demand (now there’s something available
but people with big dogs who need more space can’t use it, etc).
- Seniors don’t feel like they can bring their dogs to the current parks because of the kids
(may be scared, possible issues, perception that park isn’t for adults). One of the reasons
people want a dog park is to meet people with other dogs.
Seniors
- Seniors want places in parks where there are trails, trees, opportunities for being in
nature. This is available at Silverwood but not walking distance for many of these
residents, they want something they can walk to (fighting the mentality that we have to
drive to go to a park).
- Going out for walks in neighborhoods can result in problems with distance when there
aren’t enough benches and places to rest.
6
The following are next steps and conclusions from the discussion.
- Data can be provided by Sports Boosters, City, school district for participation, usage,
etc.
- A final location for a pickleball facility location can be determined in near future.
- Group is open to continued discussion about how many sheets of ice are needed in the
parks. A calculated estimate/analysis of costs to maintain each ice rink can be done but
keeping in mind that space is the primary issue (not financials).
- Group is open to exploring modifications for Silver Point Park.
- If Central Park’s ice rink becomes dual purpose for a summer dog park, determine if
there is a specific surface that can be used that will be able to accommodate both uses.
- Mapping GIS layers of drainage/empty areas in St. Anthony Village for a dog park.
Realistically the Pahl neighborhood pocket park is the only one we’d want to consider,
otherwise a dog park would be too much for an area with houses immediately around it.
- Consider PEC conducting a comprehensive survey to gather data and insight of
community needs in park system.
Adjournment:
Mayor Webster adjourned the Work Session at 7:51 pm.
MEMORANDUM
To: City of Saint Anthony Village City Council
From: Minette Saulog, Sustainability Coordinator
Date: March 25, 2025 City Council Worksession
Request: Energy Action Plan Review
BACKGROUND
The City started participating in Partners in Energy in the spring of 2024, and hosted a series of planning
workshops with the community Energy Action Team between July and November. These meetings allowed the
City to receive feedback and input for the creation of an Energy Action Plan that would align with the Climate
Plan’s Energy section.
Enclosed in the memo is the draft of the Energy Action Plan for your discussion and review. To date, revisions
have been incorporated from staff, Energy Action Team members, and PEC. For this review, staff would like
Council to review the draft plan with a focus on the Strategies and Actions in pages 30-35 of the Plan.
The final Energy Action Plan will be presented at the April 8, 2025 City Council Meeting for approval and
adoption. Once adopted, an 18-month implementation period will begin with the support of Partners in Energy
(Xcel Energy and the Center for Energy & Environment), along with opportunities for staff to partner with the
Parks & Environmental Commission and various community groups for outreach and engagement.
ATTACHMENTS:
• Partners in Energy PowerPoint Presentation
• Energy Action Plan Draft
2025
1
SAINT ANTHONY VILLAGE ENERGY ACTION PLAN
MARCH 25, 2025
1
WHAT IS PARTNERS IN ENERGY?
Partners in Energy is a two-year collaboration with Xcel Energy to develop and implement your
individual community energy plan goals.
Opportunity to engage stakeholders, create goals and strategies, and develop a work plan to be
successful.
Developing the Plan
(4-6 months)
Implementation with
Partners in Energy
(18-20 months)
Continued Implementation
2
2025
2
SAINT ANTHONY VILLAGE ENERGY ACTION TEAM
•City staff
•Silverwood Park
•Saint Anthony Area Chamber of Commerce Board
Members
•PEC Members and Youth Liaison
•Citizens for Sustainability
•Faith communities
•Historical Society Board Member
•Sports Boosters
•Utility representatives
3
SAINT ANTHONY VILLAGE PARTNERS IN ENERGY PROCESS
April 2024
Kickoff Meeting
April-July 2024
Stakeholder
recruitment
July-Nov 2024
Planning Phase
3 Workshops and 1
virtual meeting with
Energy Action Team
Dec 2024-April 2025
Finalize Energy Action
Plan
Approval
May 2025-Nov 2026
Implementation
Phase
Partners in Energy
support
4
2025
3
CLIMATE PLAN INFORMED ENERGY ACTION PLAN
5
6
PLAN DEVELOPMENT STEPS
1.
Anchoring 2. Baseline 3. Vision 4. Goals 5. Focus
Areas
6.
Strategies 7. Tactics 8. Action
Planning
9. Plan
Finalization 10. Launch
2025
4
VISION
St. Anthony Village prioritizes energy actions that support
residents and businesses to preserve the environment,
improve resiliency, and make our community a more
sustainable place.
7
GOAL
St. Anthony Village will reduce energy-related greenhouse
gas emissions 80% by 2040.
8
2025
5
FOCUS AREAS
9
Energy
Efficiency
Renewable
Energy Electrification
ENERGY EFFICIENCY STRATEGIES
Energy Efficiency Strategies Tactics Lead Timeline
Strategy 1: Create a campaign to promote the
Home Energy Squad to residents.
1A: Create outreach materials like flyers and door hangers to mail and drop door-to-
door to older homes.PiE Q2 2025
1B: Table at community and City events, promote in City communications (e-
newsletters, social media) to share audits as the first step to energy efficiency.
City, Citizens for
Sustainability,
PEC Q3 2025
Strategy 2: Create a campaign to promote
building energy assessments to businesses.
2A: Use Chamber of Commerce communication channels and meetings to share
energy resources.PiE Q4 2025
2B: Partner with business groups to share resources and identify champions in the
business community to highlight as success stories for marketing.
City, Chamber of
Commerce Q4 2025
2C: Go door-to-door to businesses to share about energy efficiency assessments
and recommendations for projects.
City, Program
Implementor Q2 2026
Strategy 3: Share energy efficiency resources,
funding, and programs to help residents
reduce energy use, including low-income
residents.
3A: Provide City Sustainability staff as connection for people to ask questions and
find information on energy resources.City Q2 2025
3B: Find grants and funding sources to help provide free or reduced home energy
audits.PiE Q3 2025
3C: Cultivate partnerships with local organizations, food shelves, libraries, schools,
and parks to share energy efficiency resources with the public. Use joint
communication channels and events to share resources.City Q4 2025
Strategy 4: Communicate with rental property
managers about energy efficiency
improvement opportunities for facilities and
residents.
4A: Reach out to multi-family building owners and managers, retail spaces,
nonprofits, and senior living facilities to promote energy assessments and offer
resources like energy kits, lighting sensors, lowering energy bills, and energy
education. PiE Q4 2025
4B: Send mailers and utility bill inserts sharing energy information and translate
materials into other languages when appropriate.PiE Q1 2026
4C: Include energy resources and information in property license renewal channels.
City, Finance and
Code Official City
Staff Q1 2026
10
2025
6
HOW ARE WE GOING TO GET THERE?
Focus Area: Energy Efficiency
Strategy 3: Share energy efficiency resources, funding, and
programs to help residents reduce energy use, including those
experiencing high energy burden.
11
RENEWABLE ENERGY STRATEGIES
Renewable Energy Strategies Tactics Lead Timeline
Strategy 5: Create a targeted campaign for
residents to partake in utility renewable
energy subscription programs and
community solar gardens.
5A: Use Partners in Energy mapping tools and data to identify where people have
not opted in yet and target those areas.PiE Q4 2025
5B: Create a guide that shares available programs and renewable options, and
best practices for homeowners and renters to select programs that fit their needs. PiE Q1 2026
5C: Communicate via newsletter, social media, event tabling, and mailed materials
to encourage support for renewables. PiE Q4 2025
5D: Use current events in messaging and existing celebrations, like Earth Day, to
align campaign with people’s desires to take action for the environment.PiE Q4 2025
Strategy 6: Create campaigns to increase
renewable energy support for businesses and
multi-family building owners.
6A: Find and create lists of property owners and managers of businesses and
multifamily buildings.City Q1 2026
6B: Partner with Chamber of Commerce to communicate with businesses about
renewable energy opportunities through presentations at meetings, success
stories, and newsletter content.
City, Chamber
of Commerce Q2 2026
6C: Include messaging on environmental impacts and how renewables can help
reach sustainability goals and drive customer support.PiE Q2 2026
Strategy 7: Promote information regarding
on-site solar including funding, utility rebates,
city permitting requirements, and information
on installers.
7A: Share federal, state, and utility incentives for residents and businesses to
support on-site solar installations.PiE Q1 2026
7B: Include on-site solar information in City welcome packet when a new resident
moves to St. Anthony Village.City Q1 2026
Strategy 8: Explore solar panel installation on
municipal facilities.
8A: Seek funding from government programs and integrate implementation costs
into the annual budget. City Q2 2025
8B: Lead by example by sharing municipal solar projects as demonstrations and
educational initiatives.City Q3 2025
12
2025
7
HOW ARE WE GOING TO GET THERE?
Focus Area: Renewable Energy
Strategy 5: Create a targeted campaign for residents to partake in
utility renewable energy subscription programs and community
solar gardens.
13
ELECTRIFICATION STRATEGIES
Electrification Strategies Tactics Lead Timeline
Strategy 9: Share educational materials on new
and emerging electric appliance alternatives and
EV chargers to residents.
9A: Promote funding and utility rebates to electrify appliances like air and
ground source heat pumps, water heaters, clothes dryers, and electric yard
tools.PiE Q1 2026
9B: Share information at events, local businesses, City website and
communication channels, and include in rental license renewals and permitting
processes.City Q3 2025
9C: Create a fridge magnet of new appliance options and programs for
replacement to distribute to residents.PiE Q2 2026
Strategy 10: Evaluate the condition of existing
City equipment and develop a predicted
replacement schedule and funding.
10A: Work with City departments to incorporate electric appliance alternatives
and fleet electrification into the purchasing plan and account for changes in
equipment cost in financial planning. City, PEC Q1 2026
10B: Utilize grants for alternative outdoor power equipment.City, PEC Q2 2026
10C: Convene group of local government entities to share electrification
practices.PiE Q2 2026
Strategy 11: Facilitate peer-to-peer learning from
residents who have implemented electrification
measures to those interested.
11A: Create an event or incorporate sharing into existing events for community
members to learn about personal experiences transitioning to electric
appliances.PiE Q3 2026
11B: Create and share testimonials via City communication channels to inspire
others to transition.PiE Q1 2026
Strategy 12: Create a targeted campaign for
electrically heated homes to switch to air source
heat pumps.
12A: Use mapping tools and data to identify electrically heated homes by
census group block.PiE Q1 2026
12B: Create a postcard to send to residents in census group blocks that have
high proportion of electrically heated homes about the benefits of ASHPs.PiE Q2 2026
14
2025
8
HOW ARE WE GOING TO GET THERE?
Focus Area: Electrification
Strategy 9: Share educational
materials on new and emerging
electric appliance alternatives and EV
chargers to residents.
15
IMPLEMENTATION SUPPORT
2025
9
QUESTIONS AND DISCUSSION
17
Saint Anthony Village
Energy Action Plan
April 2025
fl Xcel Energy ®
PARTNERS IN ENERGY
An Xce l Energy Comm unity Collaboratio n
Saint Anthony Village Energy Action Plan i
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Thank you to the following individuals who contributed many hours of service to developing this Energy
Action Plan.
The content of this plan is derived from a series of planning workshops hosted by Xcel Energy’s Partners
in Energy. Xcel Energy is the main electric utility serving Saint Anthony Village. Partners in Energy is a
two-year collaboration to develop and implement a community’s energy goals. For more information
about the planning workshops, see Appendix B: Xcel Energy’s Partners in Energy Planning Process.
Name Organization
Minette Saulog Sustainability Coordinator, City of Saint Anthony Village
Jerry Adam St. Charles Borromeo Church and School, Director of
Operations
Alyssa Baguss Silverwood Park
Dan Bakke Parks & Environmental Commission
Mark Gibbs School District, Facilities Coordinator
Amanda Haluptzok Saint Anthony Area Chamber of Commerce At Large Board
Member
Cece Kram Parks & Environmental Commission Youth Liaison
Dan Kunitz Citizens for Sustainability
TK Kuykendall Sports Boosters President
Mike Mayne Saint Anthony Area Chamber of Commerce Board Vice
President
Keith Pearson Historical Society Board Member
John Stromberg Elmwood Church
Jessica Swiontek Parks & Environmental Commission
Barb Tuominen Communications Coordinator, City of Saint Anthony Village
Utility Representatives and Facilitators
Megan Weck Partners in Energy Community Facilitator
Paolo Speirn Partners in Energy Community Facilitator
Michelle Frost Partners in Energy Community Facilitator
Sofia Troutman Partners in Energy Program Manager, Xcel Energy
Adam Burr Account Manager, Xcel Energy
Michael Wilhelmi Community Relations Manager, Xcel Energy
Kathryn Knudson Local Energy Policy Manager, CenterPoint Energy
This Energy Action Plan was funded by and developed in collaboration with Xcel Energy’s Partners in
Energy. Partners in Energy shall not be responsible for any content, analysis, or results if Saint
Anthony Village has made modifications to the plan.
Saint Anthony Village Energy Action Plan ii
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Acknowledgements ........................................................................................................................................ i
Executive Summary ....................................................................................................................................... 3
Glossary of Terms.......................................................................................................................................... 5
Introduction .................................................................................................................................................. 7
Where We Are Now .................................................................................................................................... 10
Where We Are Going .................................................................................................................................. 22
How We Stay On Course ............................................................................................................................. 27
How We Are Going To Get There ................................................................................................................ 29
Focus Area: Energy Efficiency ..................................................................................................................... 29
Focus Area: Renewable Energy ................................................................................................................... 31
Focus Area: Electrification .......................................................................................................................... 33
Community Resources for Implementation................................................................................................ 35
Appendix A: Work Plan ............................................................................................................................... 36
Appendix B: Xcel Energy’s Partners in Energy Planning Process ................................................................ 41
Appendix C: Baseline Energy Analysis ......................................................................................................... 45
Appendix D: Methodology for Measuring Success ..................................................................................... 55
SAINT ANTHONY VILLAGE ENERGY ACTION PLAN
The Energy Action Plan was designed by Saint Anthony Village city staff and community members
in collaboration with Xcel Energy’s Partners in Energy. This plan builds on the city’s Climate Plan by
offering concrete actions in the energy sector that will help reduce greenhouse gas emissions. It
outlines opportunities for the community to save energy and money, increase renewable energy
support, and electrify homes and buildings.
Executive Summary
Goal
Saint Anthony Village will reduce
energy-related greenhouse gas
emissions 80% by 2040.
Energy Action Plan Impacts
Saving money
community-wide
through participation
in utility programs.
Saving energy in
homes, buildings,
and public spaces.
Vision
Saint Anthony Village prioritizes energy
actions that support residents and
businesses to preserve the environment,
improve resiliency, and make our community
a more sustainable place.
Increasing
renewable energy
support to help
reduce greenhouse
gas emissions.
Equitably serving
all residents and
businesses with
community-based
energy actions.
The content of this plan is derived from a series of planning
workshops hosted by Xcel Energy’s Partners in Energy. Thank
you to the Saint Anthony Village Energy Action Team who
contributed many hours of service. The team included people
from city commissions, Chamber of Commerce Board, faith
leaders, parks, schools, sports boosters, and historical society.
How We Are Going to Get There
The City of Saint Anthony Village with support from
Partners in Energy will take actions identified in this plan to
achieve our goal. These actions center on three focus areas:
Energy Efficiency
Renewable Energy
Electrification
Strategy Highlights
• Collaborate with businesses, local organizations, and
multi-family buildings to encourage participation in
energy programs and opportunities.
• Support community members who need it most by
sharing energy resources and assistance to lower
energy bills.
• Conduct outreach and education campaigns to raise
awareness of how to support renewable energy.
• Educate and engage residents on beneficial electrification,
the switch from fossil-fuel powered appliances to more
efficient electricity-powered appliances.
Get Involved
Visit savmn.com/205/Sustainability to read more about
the Energy Action Plan and find ways you can get involved.
To learn how you can help Saint Anthony Village achieve
our energy goals, please contact Sustainability Coordinator
Minette Saulog at minette.saulog@savmn.com.
GLOSSARY OF TERMS
4 x 50: Xcel Energy’s privacy rule, which requires all data summary statistics to contain at least four
premises, with no single premise responsible for more than 50% of the total. Following these rules, if a
premise(s) is responsible for more than 50% of the total for that data set, it is/they are removed from
the summary.
Beneficial Electrification (BE): The replacement of direct fossil fuel use with electricity that results in
either lower costs, reduced emissions, or more effective use of the power grid.
British Thermal Unit (BTU): The amount of heat needed to raise one pound of water at maximum
density through one degree Fahrenheit.
Carbon-free: Carbon-free refers to sources of energy that will not emit additional carbon dioxide into
the air. Wind, solar and nuclear energy are all carbon-free sources but only wind and solar are
renewable.
Carbon-neutral: Carbon-neutral, also described as “net zero,” could include carbon-free sources but is
broader and refers to energy that removes or avoids as much carbon dioxide as is released over a set
period of time. Carbon-neutral is sometimes used to describe a site that produces an excess amount of
electricity from a renewable energy source, such as solar, compared to what it consumes. That excess
energy is put back into the grid in an amount that offsets the carbon dioxide produced from the
electricity it draws from the grid when it is not producing renewable energy.
Community Data Mapping: A baseline analysis of energy data in a geospatial (map) format across the
community.
Decatherm (Dth): Quantity of energy that is equivalent to ten therms.
Demand Side Management (DSM): Modification of consumer demand for energy through various
methods, including education and financial incentives. DSM aims to encourage consumers to decrease
energy consumption, especially during peak hours, or to shift time-of-energy use to off-peak periods
such as nighttime and weekend.
Direct Installation: Energy-saving equipment installed by Xcel Energy or other organization, for program
participants, that produces immediate energy savings.
Energy Burden: Percentage of gross household income spent on energy costs.
Energy Reduction: The result of behavior changes that cause less energy to be used. For example,
setting the thermostat to a lower temperature reduces the energy used in your home during the winter.
Since energy reductions can be easily reversed, they are not accounted for when calculating changes in
energy usage.
Energy Savings: Comes from a permanent change that results in using less energy to achieve the same
results. A new furnace uses X% less energy to keep your home at the same temperature (all things being
equal), resulting in energy savings of X%. For accounting purposes, energy savings are only counted in
the year the new equipment is installed.
Greenhouse Gases (GHG): Gases in the atmosphere that absorb and emit radiation and significantly
contribute to climate change. The primary greenhouse gases in the earth's atmosphere are water vapor,
carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide and ozone.
Grid Decarbonization: The current planned reduction in the carbon intensity of electricity provided by
electric utilities through the addition of low- or no-carbon energy sources to the electricity grid.
Kilowatt-hour (kWh): A unit of electricity consumption.
Million British Thermal Units (MMBtu): A unit of energy consumption that allows electricity and natural
gas consumption to be combined.
Metric Tons of Carbon Dioxide Equivalent (MTCO2e): A unit of measure for greenhouse gas emissions.
The unit "CO2e" represents an amount of a greenhouse gas whose atmospheric impact has been
standardized to that of one unit mass of carbon dioxide (CO2), based on the global warming potential
(GWP) of the gas.
Megawatt (MW): A unit of electric power equal to one million watts.
Premise: A unique combination of service address and meter. For residential customers, this is typically
the equivalent of an individual house or dwelling unit in a multi-tenant building. For business customers,
it is an individual business, or for a larger business, a separately metered portion of the business’s load
at that address.
Renewable Energy Certificate (REC): For every megawatt-hour of clean, renewable electricity
generation, a renewable energy certificate (REC) is created. A REC embodies all the environmental
attributes of the generation and can be tracked and traded separately from the underlying electricity.
Also known as a Renewable Energy Credit.
Resilience: The ability to prepare for and adapt to changing conditions and withstand and recover
rapidly from disruptions. Resilience includes the ability to withstand and recover from deliberate
attacks, accidents, or naturally occurring threats or incidents.
Recommissioning: An energy efficiency service focused on identifying ways that existing building
systems can be tuned up to run as efficiently as possible.
Solar Garden: Shared solar array with grid-connected subscribers who receive bill credits for their
subscriptions.
Solar Photovoltaic (PV): Solar cells/panels that convert sunlight into electricity (convert light, or
photons, into electricity, or voltage).
Subscription: An agreement to purchase a certain amount of something in regular intervals.
Therm (thm or therm): A unit of natural gas consumption.
Trade Partner: Trade Partners, also known as Trade Allies or Business Trade Partners, are vendors and
contractors who work with business and residential customers servicing, installing and providing
consulting services regarding the equipment associated with utility rebate programs. Their support for
utility programs can range from providing equipment and assisting with rebate paperwork, to receiving
rebates for equipment sold.
Saint Anthony Village Energy Action Plan 7
INTRODUCTION
The City of Saint Anthony Village is a first-ring suburb
located in the heart of the Twin Cities Metropolitan
area. With just over 9,300 residents, Saint Anthony
Village offers a uniquely small-town feel in the middle of
Minnesota’s largest urban core. City departments offer
full services to residents and the wider community with
its own Fire and Police departments, Public Works,
Finance, Administration, and two municipal liquor
stores. It is also home to the geographically smallest
independent school district in Minnesota at only 2.6
square miles, Saint Anthony-New Brighton Schools.
Saint Anthony Village offers several city-owned parks as
well as Three Rivers Park District’s Silverwood Park
providing sports, trails, and outdoor recreation opportunities. It is well regarded as a family-friendly
community and the City and school district closely collaborate to share spaces for organized sports,
along with other amenities like outdoor ice-skating rinks in the winter. With thriving commercial districts
at the north and south end of the city, there are abundant options for work and play. Saint Anthony
Village takes pride in maintaining high community standards and strives daily to live up to its mission
statement: “Promote a high quality of life to those we serve through outstanding city services.”
Why an Energy Action Plan
The City has prioritized environmental sustainability for many years. The City currently participates in
the B3 Benchmarking Program for City facilities, and has several facilities subscribed to Community Solar
Gardens. The City has been a member of the MN GreenStep program since its inception and maintains
the highest status as a GreenStep 5 City. Maintaining this status involves annual tracking and reporting
energy use with an aim of continuous energy efficiency improvements. We completed a city-wide LED
Who are we talking about?
We, Our and the City refer to the City of Saint
Anthony Village.
Community refers to the broader Saint Anthony
Village community, including residents,
businesses, and other stakeholders.
Energy Action Team is the group of individuals
whose input created our Energy Action Plan.
Energy Action Plan refers to this document for the
City of Saint Anthony Village.
Saint Anthony Village Energy Action Plan 8
lighting retrofit, were designated a SolSmart Silver Community in 2019, added two F-150 Lightning EV
trucks to the Public Works fleet, and hired a full-time Sustainability Coordinator in 2024.
In 2019, the Parks Commission scope was expanded to include environmental sustainability matters and
was renamed the Parks & Environmental Commission. Part of their work is to provide recommendations
to the City Council concerning energy and environmental issues. They advocated for a Climate Plan,
which was completed in 2023.
Figure 1. Timeline of Saint Anthony Village Sustainability Initiatives
Saint Anthony Village was looking for ways to inform the entire community of the regional and
statewide goals of greenhouse gas emissions reductions over the coming decades, while helping build
momentum on climate action through progress on the City’s Climate Plan. Knowledge of current energy
use, as well as options for reduction in energy consumption, energy alternatives and community
education are the most pressing issues for the City. This Energy Action Plan provides concrete actions in
the energy sector for residents, businesses, and the City to partake in, and offers data analysis and
tracking on energy metrics that will help measure success. The energy strategies from the Climate Plan
were modified and brought into more detail through this Energy Action Plan to create a roadmap
specific to Saint Anthony Village’s goals.
About This Plan
The content outlined in this plan was developed collaboratively with a group of stakeholders, referred to
as the Energy Action Team, through planning workshops conducted between July and November 2024.
The Energy Action Team included representatives from City Commissions, Chamber of Commerce,
sustainability groups, churches, sports boosters, historical society, school district, and parks. (See
Acknowledgements for full list of participants). Team members coordinated throughout the process to
share information and make decisions about this plan.
•Member of
MN GreenStep
Cities
2010
•Designated SolSmart
Silver Community
•Parks &
Environmental
Commission
expanded
2019 •Approved Saint
Anthony Village
Climate Plan
2023
•Hired
Sustainability
Coordinator
2024
Saint Anthony Village Energy Action Plan 9
By the numbers, we engaged: 2 surveys, 3 workshops, 1 webinar, 14 participants, and 6 utility
representatives and facilitators. See Appendix B: Xcel Energy’s Partners in Energy Planning Process for
more information about the planning process and Xcel Energy Partners in Energy.
Saint Anthony Village joined more than 40 other Minnesota communities that have developed Energy
Action Plans through Xcel Energy’s Partners in Energy, an offering that provides resources for
community energy planning. Partners in Energy also supports 18 months of plan implementation in the
form of marketing and communications, data tracking and analysis, program expertise, and project
management.
2 Surveys
3 workshops
1 webinar
14 participants on
Energy Action Team
6 utility
representatives and
facilitators
Figure 2. Partners in Energy Planning Process Components
Saint Anthony Village Energy Action Plan 10
WHERE WE ARE NOW
An integral part of the Partners in Energy planning process is reviewing historical energy data that
informs our community’s energy baseline. Xcel Energy and CenterPoint Energy provided data on energy
use, participation counts, and utility energy conservation program savings for Saint Anthony Village, as
detailed in the following sections. See Appendix C: Baseline Energy Analysis for a comprehensive picture
of Saint Anthony Village’s energy data.
Community Demographics
As of 2022, Saint Anthony Village’s population of more than 9,000 residents lived in approximately 4,200
housing units. With similar levels of diversity compared to the Twin Cities metro area, 13% of residents
speak a language other than English, 9% of residents identify as multiracial and 6% identify as Asian. The
poverty rate of 2% is relatively low, while the median household income of $92,000 is similar to some
peer cities. With 85% of housing built before 2000, most Saint Anthony Village residents live in homes
with significant opportunity for energy efficiency improvements given the lower energy efficiency
standards and general wear and tear on older buildings. Additionally, 40% of units in Saint Anthony
Village are renter-occupied, presenting unique opportunities for energy efficiency measures that target
renter-occupied units. Figure 3 displays the community demographic profile.
Saint Anthony Village Energy Action Plan 11
Figure 3. Overview of Saint Anthony Village community demographics1
Energy Use and Savings
Premises
Xcel Energy provides electricity to Saint Anthony Village residents and businesses, while natural gas is
provided by CenterPoint Energy. In 2023, Saint Anthony Village consisted of 4,538 distinct electric
premises, which are a unique combination of service address and meter. For residential customers, this
is typically the equivalent of an individual house or a dwelling unit in a multi-tenant building. For
business customers, a premise is an individual business, or for a larger business, a separately metered
portion of the business’ load at that same address. Most Saint Anthony Village premises are residential,
with a small number of commercial and industrial premises and a smaller portion of municipal premises
rounding out the total (Figure 4).
1 Source: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey, 2022 five-year estimates
Saint Anthony Village Energy Action Plan 12
Figure 4. Total premises by sector, 2023
Grid Energy Use
On average during the 2021–2023 baseline period, the Saint Anthony Village community consumed
nearly 60 million kWh of electricity and almost 5 million therms of natural gas across all sectors per year
(Figure 5). To compare energy use between electricity and natural gas consumption on a common
measure of energy savings potential, total energy consumption was calculated using both electricity and
natural gas consumption converted into British thermal units (MMBTu). Although the commercial and
industrial sector only makes up 8% of premises in Saint Anthony Village, it accounts for over half of total
energy consumption. Commercial and industrial premises use significantly more energy on average per
premise than residential premises, a typical pattern for cities like Saint Anthony Village.
Figure 5. Average annual energy consumption by sector, 2021-2023
Saint Anthony Village Energy Action Plan 13
During the three-year baseline period (2021–2023), Saint Anthony Village’s overall electricity
consumption increased 2.5%. Electricity consumption in the residential sector increased slightly by 0.5%
during the three-year baseline, while commercial consumption increased by 4.1% (Figure 6). Saint
Anthony Village’s natural gas consumption increased by 7.3% overall during the baseline period, driven
by a 9.4% increase in the commercial and industrial sector and a 5.2% increase in the residential sector
(Figure 7). Total energy consumption during the baseline period varied in each sector consistent with
variation in weather. Hotter summers (those with more cooling degree days) and colder winters (those
with more heating degree days) had higher energy consumption. For example, of the three years
considered, Saint Anthony Village’s natural gas consumption was at its highest level in 2022, which was
also the coldest year with the most heating degree days.
Figure 6. Electricity consumption by sector, 2021–2023
Figure 7. Natural gas consumption by sector, 2021–2023
Saint Anthony Village Energy Action Plan 14
Energy Costs and Energy Burden
During an average year over the three-year baseline period, Saint Anthony Village spent an estimated
$12.7 million on fuel costs for both electricity and natural gas (Figure 8). Not quite half these costs were
paid by residents, with total annual average fuel costs at $6.1 million. A residential premise spent an
average of $1,493 annually on electricity and natural gas. The commercial sector averaged $6.2 million
annually on fuel costs. While costs vary greatly for commercial and industrial premises based on size and
industry, on average these premises spent almost $18,000 annually.
Figure 8. Total average annual energy costs by sector, 2021–2023
Table 1. Average annual fuel costs by sector and fuel type, 2021–2023
Sector
Annual Electricity
Costs
Annual Natural Gas
Costs
Annual Cost per
Premise
Residential $3,444,886 $2,617,306 $1,493
Commercial & Industrial $4,274,067 $1,953,500 $17,999
Municipal $325,574 $70,880 $12,789
Total $8,044,527 $4,641,686
Saint Anthony Village Energy Action Plan 15
Energy burden is the percentage of income that community members spend on energy. A high energy
burden is defined as spending greater than 6% of income on energy, while a severe energy burden is
greater than 10% of income.3 The group of Saint Anthony Village residents with the greatest energy
burden are those who own their homes and make 30% or less of the area median income. This group
spends an average of 12% of their income on energy costs (Figure 9). The household data in Figure 10
show that 4% of Saint Anthony Village residents fall into this category. As a point of reference, 49% of
Saint Anthony Village residents are homeowners who make more than the area median income, a group
with a 1% energy burden.
2 Source: Department of Energy Low-Income Energy Affordability Data Tool
3 APPRISE (Applied Public Policy Research Institute for Study and Evaluation). 2005. LIHEAP Energy
Burden Evaluation Study. Washington, DC: HHS (Department of Health and Human Services).
www.acf.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/ocs/comm_liheap_ energyburdenstudy_apprise.pdf.
Figure 9. Energy burden by income and owner status2
Saint Anthony Village Energy Action Plan 16
Figure 10. Household count by income and owner status4
Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Greenhouse gas emissions are calculated for both electricity and natural gas consumption for all sectors
in Saint Anthony Village (Figure 11). Saint Anthony Village’s energy-related greenhouse gas emissions in
2023 amounted to 41,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (MTCO2e). Saint Anthony Village’s
residential sector accounts for 46% of energy-related greenhouse gas emissions. Emissions in 2021 and
2023 are very similar, with a 9% increase in 2022 associated with the greater natural gas use in a colder
winter. Figure 12 breaks down the 2023 energy-related emissions by sector and fuel type. The largest
proportion of emissions (32%) comes from natural gas in the commercial sector, and in total, the
commercial sector generated 53% of Saint Anthony Village’s energy-related greenhouse emissions while
the residential sector generated 45% of the emissions. Natural gas consumption made up the largest
proportion of total emissions, adding up to 62% of all energy-related emissions. The proportion of
energy-related emissions from natural gas is expected to increase over time as grid decarbonization
results in cleaner electricity.
4 Source: Department of Energy Low-Income Energy Affordability Data Tool.
Saint Anthony Village Energy Action Plan 17
Figure 11. Energy-related greenhouse gas emissions, 2021–2023
Figure 12. Energy-related greenhouse gas emissions by sector and fuel type, 2023
Saint Anthony Village Energy Action Plan 18
Renewable Energy
Saint Anthony Village residents and businesses use subscription programs and on-site options to support
renewable energy (Table 2 and Table 3). In Saint Anthony, most renewable energy support is in the
residential sector, where 351 residents receive renewable energy through subscription programs for a
combined total of over 1.5 million kWh, equivalent to taking 240 gas-powered cars off the road for a
year, 57 residents have on-site solar installations. Fewer commercial and industrial customers
participate in renewable energy offerings than residential customers, with 13 renewable energy
program subscribers totaling nearly 733,000 kWh and 9 on-site installations. Overall, there is potential
to increase renewable energy use in Saint Anthony Village, with the energy generated through
renewable energy subscriptions making up only about 3.7% of the community’s electricity consumption.
This total excludes generation from on-site solar because those installations are on the customer’s side
of the utility meter.
Table 2. Xcel Energy subscription renewable energy program support, 2023
Residential Commercial &
Industrial Total Renewable*Connect® &
Renewable*Connect Flex®5
Subscriber Count 273 0 273
Total Annual Electricity Subscribed (kWh) 1,024,075 0 1,024,075
Community Solar Gardens –
Solar*Rewards® Community
Subscriber Count 78 13 91
Total Annual Electricity Subscribed (kWh) 505,065 732,983 1,238,048
Total Xcel Energy Subscription Renewable
Energy Support
Subscriber Count 351 13 364
Total Annual Electricity Subscribed (kWh) 1,529,140 732,983 2,262,123
Percent of Sector Xcel Energy Electricity
Use 6.2% 3.4% 3.7%
Table 3. Xcel Energy on-site solar program support, 20236
On-site Solar – Solar*Rewards® and Net-
Metering Residential Commercial &
Industrial Total
Participant Count 57 9 66
Total Electricity Capacity (kW) 491 190 681
5 The Windsource® program is now called Renewable*Connect Flex®.
6 Source: Xcel Energy Community Energy Report for Saint Anthony Village, 2023
Saint Anthony Village Energy Action Plan 19
Energy Efficiency Program Participation and Savings
Both residential and commercial and industrial premises participate in Xcel Energy and CenterPoint
Energy’s efficiency programs where they can receive rebates for upgrading equipment, arrange a
building audit to understand their efficiency opportunities or manage their demand through rate savings
programs. Participation in these programs results in energy savings for participants. Saint Anthony
Village residents and commercial and industrial premises saved an annual average of 662,000 kWh and
74,000 therms during the baseline period by participating in CenterPoint Energy and Xcel Energy’s
efficiency programs.
Table 4. Average annual Xcel Energy program participation and energy savings, 2021–2023
Table 5. Average annual CenterPoint Energy program participation and energy savings, 2021–20237
7 Home Energy Squad is a program jointly offered by Xcel Energy and CenterPoint Energy. Data in this
table excludes Home Energy Squad participation to avoid double counting participants included in Table
4, but therms savings from Home Energy Squad are included here. Participation and savings data
exclude DIY energy efficiency kits, home energy reports and school kits from the residential sector, and
code compliance, training and education and benchmarking from the commercial sector.
Program Sector Average Annual Participation Average Electricity Savings
(kWh)
Residential 254 53,409
Low-Income 10 5,059
Commercial & Industrial 25 603,022
Total 289 661,490
Program Sector Average Annual
Participation
Average Natural Gas Savings (therms)
Residential 134 17,311
Low-Income 3 427
Commercial & Industrial 29 56,366
Total 167 74,104
Saint Anthony Village Energy Action Plan 20
Saint Anthony Village residents and businesses rely on a few key programs from Xcel Energy to help
them improve efficiency (Table 6 and Table 7). The Residential Heating and Cooling rebate program,
where residents receive rebates for upgrading to more efficient equipment, had the most participants
and resulted in the most savings, but programs like Refrigerator Recycling, a recycling rebate program,
and Home Energy Squad, a home energy assessment with some equipment installation, also resulted in
significant savings. In the commercial and industrial sector, the Lighting Efficiency and Small Business
Lighting programs that offer audits and rebates for businesses to upgrade to more energy efficient
lighting had the most participants and highest savings. Energy Design Assistance and HVAC+R Efficiency
had lower participation but significant savings. Participation and savings data from 2021–2023 for all
Xcel Energy and CenterPoint programs are provided in Appendix C: Baseline Energy Analysis.
Table 6. Average annual participation in top Xcel Energy residential programs, 2021–2023
Residential Program Average Annual Participation Average Electricity Savings (kWh)
Residential Heat 94 33,664
Refrigerator Recycling 14 10,637
Home Energy Squad 14 7,446
Smart Thermostat 61 1,405
Insulation Rebate 2 211
Table 7. Average annual participation in top Xcel Energy commercial and industrial programs, 2021–
2023
Commercial Program Average Annual Participation Average Electricity Savings (kWh)
Energy Design Assistance 1 409,927
Lighting Efficiency 10 111,642
Small Business Lighting 2 51,393
HVAC+R Efficiency 3 17,271
Fluid System Optimization8 .3 9,746
8 This program had one participant in the three-year baseline period, which shows up in the table as .3
average annual participations but is included in the table because of the relatively high amount of
electricity savings.
Saint Anthony Village Energy Action Plan 21
Popular Xcel Energy Energy Efficiency Programs
• Home Energy Squad: A residential energy assessment program from Xcel Energy that includes a
home energy audit and installation of energy efficient materials.
• Residential Heating & Cooling: A rebate program for residential customers who purchase high-
efficiency heating and cooling equipment.
• Refrigerator Recycling: Xcel Energy will recycle a customer’s old, inefficient refrigerator, and
they receive a rebate.
• HVAC+R: A rebate program where businesses can earn rebates from Xcel Energy on high-
efficiency heating, ventilation, air-conditioning, refrigeration, and more.
• Small Business Lighting: A free lighting and HVAC assessment program for small and medium-
sized business customers.
• Lighting Efficiency: Business customers can earn rebates from Xcel Energy for purchasing and
installing LED lighting fixtures, bulbs, and control systems.
Saint Anthony Village Energy Action Plan 22
WHERE WE ARE GOING
Building on the Saint Anthony Village Climate Plan
Saint Anthony Village adopted a Climate Plan in 2023 that includes four
areas of focus: Water, Waste, Energy, and Transportation, all of which
have education, community, or policy actions associated with them. To
align efforts across both the Climate Plan and the Energy Action Plan, the
planning team used the energy-specific goal and focus areas from the
Climate Plan for the Energy Action Plan. The team reviewed the strategies
from the Climate Plan and used them as a guide to form the strategies in
the Energy Action Plan. To read more about the Climate Plan, you can visit
the Saint Anthony Village website: www.savmn.com/632/Climate-Plan.
Energy Vision
During the planning process, the Energy Action Team created a vision statement for this Energy Action
Plan.
Vision
Saint Anthony Village prioritizes energy actions that support residents and
businesses to preserve the environment, improve resiliency, and make our
community a more sustainable place.
Saint Anthony Village Energy Action Plan 23
Focus Areas
The Saint Anthony Village Climate Plan outlined three areas of focus in the energy section, which are
also the focus areas for this Energy Action Plan.
Energy Efficiency
Improve efficiency of homes, businesses, and public facilities in Saint Anthony Village.
Renewable Energy
Increase support of renewable energy in Saint Anthony Village.
Electrification
Increase the adoption of electric appliances and equipment in homes and buildings in Saint Anthony
Village.
Goal
The Saint Anthony Village Climate Plan set a goal for its energy focus area that we will use to measure
success for this Energy Action Plan.
Table 8. Details on years used to track progress toward the goal
Year Where is it from? Why are we using it?
2005
Baseline year from Saint Anthony
Village’s Climate Plan based on the
Regional Indicators Initiative
greenhouse gas emissions data.
This data is used to measure
past progress.
2021-2023 Baseline years for the Energy Action
Plan based on utility data.
This data is used to measure
progress going forward.
2030 Energy Action Plan goal year to act as a
benchmark for tracking progress.
There is confidence in the data
to track the metrics out to 5
years with current programs,
measures, and rebates offered
by the utilities.
2040 Saint Anthony Village’s Climate Plan
goal year.
We want to use the same goal
for the Energy Action Plan to
remain consistent.
Goal
Saint Anthony Village will reduce energy-related greenhouse gas emissions
80% by 2040 compared to a 2005 baseline.
Saint Anthony Village Energy Action Plan 24
The Climate Plan used data from the Regional Indicators Initiative9 to track greenhouse gas emissions
from the baseline of 2005. In 2005, Saint Anthony Village energy-related greenhouse gas emissions were
around 61,000 metric tons, with 63% coming from electricity consumption. By 2023, total energy
emissions were lower with a total of 41,000 metric tons of emissions, 38% of which originated from
electricity. This decrease in energy emissions was largely due to Xcel Energy’s grid decarbonization over
time, making electricity less carbon intensive. Over time, emissions from natural gas will become a
larger proportion of all energy-related emissions. By 2040, Saint Anthony Village’s energy-related
emissions would be around 12,000 metric tons if we reach the goal set forward in the Climate Plan.
For the purposes of the Energy Action Plan, Partners in Energy modeled where Saint Anthony Village
should be by 2030 to be on track to reach the 2040 goal. The year 2030 was used as a benchmark to
track progress, then we will reassess new programs, measures, and rebates that become available to
support the next 10 years to 2040.
The Energy Action Plan uses a data baseline of 2021–2023. If Saint Anthony Village were to continue to
hold energy consumption constant at the baseline levels of 2021–2023, the City would see a reduction
in energy emissions depicted by the orange line in Figure 13. These projected reductions are mostly due
to electrical grid decarbonization. The gray line is a linear model of the goal and shows the gap that
needs to be addressed by 2030 and 2040. The dotted line is noting where the emissions will be in 2030.
There is a small gap that needs to be addressed to reach the 2030 target, and the actions outlined in the
Energy Action Plan will set Saint Anthony Village up for success to reach the target of 29,188 MTCO2e.
9 https://www.regionalindicatorsmn.com/city-summary
Saint Anthony Village Energy Action Plan 25
Figure 13. Projected emissions from energy consumption in Saint Anthony Village based on Energy
Action Plan baseline years of 2021–2023
To reach the 2030 goal, the impact on greenhouse gas emissions reductions come from a few sources.
Since the Climate Plan’s baseline period of 2005, Saint Anthony Village has already reduced energy-
related greenhouse gas emissions by 32%. Looking forward from this Energy Action Plan’s baseline
period of 2021–2023, it is estimated that there will be a 16% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions
from grid decarbonization. In addition, the impact of the actions in this plan will account for 7% of the
2030 goal (Figure 14).
Figure 14. Sources of impact on energy-related greenhouse gas emissions reduction goal by 2030
29,188
31,288
-
5,000
10,000
15,000
20,000
25,000
30,000
35,000
40,000
45,000
50,000
MTCO2eSaint Anthony Village 2030 Goal
80% Reduction Goal Projected Energy Emissions
Saint Anthony Village Energy Action Plan 26
Partners in Energy created annual targets by focus area to help Saint Anthony Village measure progress
toward the 2030 goal. The emissions reductions for the goal period are measured from the energy saved
by energy efficiency and renewable energy program participation. Electrification will play a larger role in
the 2030–2040 period.
Table 9 displays the different metrics we will use to measure progress in each focus area. The Energy
Efficiency focus area will track progress by measuring energy savings in kWh and therms from residents
and businesses participating in utility programs. The Renewable Energy focus area will track progress by
measuring participation in utility renewable energy subscription programs, community solar garden
programs, and counts of on-site solar installations. The Electrification focus area will track progress by
measuring participation in utility rebate programs for electric equipment. Combined, these annual
targets will put Saint Anthony Village on a path to achieve the Climate Plan goal.
Table 9. Focus Area metrics
Focus Area Metric
Energy Efficiency
• Energy savings from utility program
participation
Renewable Energy
• Community solar garden participation
• Green power purchase program
participation
• On-site solar installations
Electrification
• Electrification program participation
Focus Area Goals
Residential Energy Efficiency
• Increase residential energy efficiency savings by 75%, resulting in 2.1 million kWh and 652,000
therms saved from 2025–2030
Commercial Energy Efficiency
• Increase commercial energy efficiency savings by 50%, resulting in 19 million kWh and 1.8
million therms saved from 2025–2030
Renewable Energy
• Increase residential participation in Xcel Energy renewable energy programs by 3% annually
• Increase commercial participation in Xcel Energy renewable energy programs by three
participants annually
Electrification
• 10 residential participants annually in Xcel Energy electrification programs
Saint Anthony Village Energy Action Plan 27
HOW WE STAY ON COURSE
This Energy Action Plan is a living document that is cyclical in nature. Goals and strategies will be
assessed and refined as needed based on data and community staff capacity.
Figure 15: Cycle of Implementation, Measurement and Reporting, and Strategy
Development
It will be important that strategies are evaluated and updated throughout implementation to reflect
advancements in technology and new offerings from government entities and Xcel Energy. Throughout
the planning process, we worked to build relationships between City staff and Xcel Energy staff that will
foster the collaboration and cooperation required to successfully navigate the changing energy
landscape.
Project Management and Tracking Progress
Partners in Energy will host regular project management check-in calls with staff for 18 months to
ensure we stay on course to achieve our strategies. Partners in Energy will provide biannual progress
reports with metrics of success and overall progress toward goals for Xcel Energy rebates and programs.
Energy Action Plan
Implementation
Measurement &
Reporting
Strategy
Development &
Refinement
Saint Anthony Village Energy Action Plan 28
These reports will be available publicly and shared with both the community and Energy Action Team. If
available, ad hoc participation reports for specific Xcel Energy programs can be provided to measure the
success of campaigns and to determine if we need to change course. While CenterPoint Energy data was
included during the planning process, Saint Anthony Village can work with CenterPoint Energy directly if
they would like to receive natural gas usage data during the implementation process.
Roles & Responsibilities
Implementing the strategies outlined in this plan will require leadership and collaboration among the
City of Saint Anthony Village, members of the Energy Action Team, community representatives, and Xcel
Energy.
City of Saint Anthony Village
The City of Saint Anthony Village will provide a primary point of contact for implementation and will
assign staff to attend regular project management check-ins. The City commits to leverage existing
communication channels and community connections to promote the Energy Action Plan. In addition,
the City of Saint Anthony Village will lead strategies specific to City-owned buildings. Many strategies in
this plan overlap with the Saint Anthony Village Climate Plan. The City will coordinate the action items
between both plans when necessary.
Energy Action Team
The Energy Action Team formed to create this plan will support implementation by serving as
ambassadors to their networks, promoting Saint Anthony Village’s energy vision, encouraging
participation in programs and outreach campaigns, and sharing success stories. When relevant,
members will serve as partners in implementing strategies. Energy Action Team members may be
invited to project management calls or other check-in meetings to ensure strategies are implemented
successfully.
Xcel Energy
Xcel Energy will provide data reporting, project management, marketing and communications support,
and program expertise for the first 18 months of implementation. Xcel Energy will also provide a
dedicated community facilitator to serve as a primary point of contact. Partners in Energy offers digital
resources including webinars, e-newsletters, and an online portal, as well as events throughout the year.
After the first 18 months of implementation, Xcel Energy will continue to provide ad hoc support and
data to St Anthony Village if desired.
CenterPoint Energy
When requested by the community, CenterPoint Energy will provide program and energy resources and
outreach support during implementation. They will share their energy expertise and data when
requested.
Saint Anthony Village Energy Action Plan 29
HOW WE ARE GOING TO GET THERE
To achieve the community’s energy vision and goal, the Energy Action Team identified a set of strategies
to support implementation. The following section outlines our implementation plan, including
strategies, tactics, and resources to help achieve our goal. These initiatives will be led by the City of Saint
Anthony Village and supported by Partners in Energy, Xcel Energy, the Energy Action Team, and other
utilities. Each focus area has background information, four strategies, and specific tactics describing the
actions. For a more detailed work plan with a timeline, see Appendix A: Work Plan.
Core Strategies
The Energy Action Team identified strategies that encompass all focus areas. These are the Core
Strategies.
Core Strategy 1: Create an energy resource hub on the City website for sharing resources and
information on energy efficiency, renewable energy, and electrification.
Core Strategy 2: Create a recognition program for residents and businesses to take action on energy
efficiency, renewable energy, and electrification.
Focus Area: Energy Efficiency
Why is this a priority?
The first step to energy action is making a home or building more energy efficient. Many people in the
Saint Anthony Village community care about the environment, but don’t necessarily connect their
personal energy use to environmental impacts. These strategies will raise awareness of the many
programs and rebates offered by utilities to help residents and businesses conserve energy, as well as
save money. The Commercial and Industrial sector accounts for 52% of total energy consumption in
Saint Anthony Village. Because of the large amount of energy used by businesses, there will be
substantial impact on energy savings from engaging businesses. Business owners can also benefit from
energy efficiency measures, and it will be important to convey the return on investment for completing
projects.
Saint Anthony Village Energy Action Plan 30
Who are the target audiences?
This focus area targets people who live in Saint Anthony Village such as homeowners, renters, retirees,
seniors, multilingual families, and manufactured homeowners and renters. It also targets small- and
medium-sized businesses and those that may need more customized support.
Strategy 1: Create a campaign to promote the Home Energy Squad to residents.
Actions Resources/Partners
1A: Create outreach materials like flyers and door hangers to mail and
drop door-to-door to older homes.
➢ Citizens for
Sustainability
➢ Village Notes
➢ Silverwood Park
➢ Library
1B: Table at community and City events, promote in City
communications (e-newsletters, social media) to share audits as the
first step to energy efficiency.
Strategy 2: Create a campaign to promote building energy assessments to businesses.
Actions Resources/Partners
2A: Leverage Chamber of Commerce communication channels and
meetings to share energy resources.
➢ Chamber of Commerce
➢ Rotary
➢ Economic Development
Dept.
2B: Partner with business groups to share resources and identify
champions in the business community to highlight as success stories
for marketing.
2C: Go door-to-door to businesses to inform about energy efficiency
assessments and recommendations for projects.
Strategy 3: Share energy efficiency resources, funding, and programs to help residents
reduce energy use, including those experiencing high energy burden.
Actions Resources/Partners
3A: Provide City Sustainability staff as connection for people to ask
questions and find information on energy resources.
➢ Food shelf
➢ Senior living facilities
➢ Library
➢ Faith communities
➢ Silverwood Park
➢ Citizens Utility Board
➢ Student Green Team
and Ecology Club
➢ Kiwanis
➢ Northeast Voyagers
3B: Find grants and funding sources to support free or reduced home
energy audits.
3C: Cultivate partnerships with local organizations, food shelves,
libraries, schools, and parks to share energy efficiency resources with
the public. Use joint communication channels and events to share
resources.
Saint Anthony Village Energy Action Plan 31
Focus Area: Renewable Energy
Why is this a priority?
To achieve Saint Anthony Village’s goal of lowering greenhouse gas emissions, the community will need
to increase renewable energy support. Xcel Energy offers on-site solar programs and renewable energy
subscription programs that enable homeowners, renters, and businesses to source their electricity from
wind and solar. There are also community solar gardens that are operated by a third-party company that
allow the customer to receive credits on their monthly utility bill for the solar energy that the
subscription contributes to the grid. There is an opportunity to educate the public about these programs
to increase renewable energy support, and share details about the funding from the Inflation Reduction
Act as additional incentives to complete renewable energy projects.
Who are the target audiences?
This focus area will increase participation in renewable energy programs for residents, businesses, and
the municipal sector. The City of Saint Anthony Village has a community solar garden subscription and is
in the process of getting on-site solar on a public building through a grant. They will act as a leader and
share their story to encourage the community to do the same.
Strategy 5: Create a targeted campaign for residents to partake in utility renewable energy
subscription programs and community solar gardens.
Actions Resources/Partners
5A: Use Partners in Energy mapping tools and data to identify where
people have not opted in yet and target those areas.
➢ Citizens for
Sustainability
➢ CERTs
➢ Community Solar
Garden companies
➢ Solar suitability app
5B: Create a guide that shares available programs and renewable
options, and best practices for homeowners and renters to select
programs that fit their needs.
Strategy 4: Communicate with rental property managers about energy efficiency
improvement opportunities for facilities and residents.
Actions Resources/Partners
4A: Reach out to multi-family building owners and managers, retail
spaces, nonprofits, and senior living facilities to promote energy
assessments and offer resources like energy kits, lighting sensors,
lowering energy bills, and energy education.
➢ Building managers
➢ Property owners
➢ Finance and code
official city staff 4B: Send mailers and utility bill inserts sharing energy information and
translate materials into other languages when appropriate.
4C: Include energy resources and information in property license
renewal channels.
Saint Anthony Village Energy Action Plan 32
5C: Communicate via newsletter, social media, event tabling, and
mailed materials to encourage support for renewables.
➢ Village Notes
5D: Use current events in messaging and existing celebrations, like
Earth Day, to align campaign with people’s desires to take action for
the environment.
Strategy 6: Create campaigns to increase renewable energy support for businesses and
multi-family building owners.
Actions Resources/Partners
6A: Find and create lists of property owners and managers of
businesses and multi-family buildings.
➢ Chamber of Commerce
➢ Property owners and
managers
➢ Business Associations
6B: Partner with Chamber of Commerce to communicate with
businesses about renewable energy opportunities through
presentations at meetings, success stories, and newsletter content.
6C: Include messaging on environmental impacts and how renewables
can help reach sustainability goals and drive customer support.
Strategy 7: Promote information regarding on-site solar including funding, utility rebates,
city permitting requirements, and information on installers.
Actions Resources/Partners
7A: Share federal, state, and utility incentives for residents and
businesses to support on-site solar installations.
➢ CERTs
➢ Inflation Reduction Act
➢ Solar companies
7B: Include on-site solar information in potential City welcome packet
when a new resident moves to Saint Anthony Village.
Strategy 8: Explore solar panel installation on municipal facilities.
Actions Resources/Partners
8A: Seek funding from government programs and integrate
implementation costs into the annual budget.
➢ Inflation Reduction Act
➢ MPCA
8B: Lead by example by sharing municipal solar projects as
demonstrations and educational initiatives.
Saint Anthony Village Energy Action Plan 33
Focus Area: Electrification
Why is this a priority?
Natural gas consumption greatly impacts Saint Anthony Village’s greenhouse gas emissions. Saint
Anthony Village’s natural gas consumption increased by 7.3% over the baseline period of 2021–2023. To
reach the 2040 greenhouse gas emissions reduction goal, it will be important to transition away from
fossil fuel-powered appliances to more efficient electric appliances.
Beneficial electrification is the replacement of direct fossil fuel use that results in either lower costs,
reduced emissions or more effective use of the power grid. In practice, this means replacing fossil fuel-
powered appliances like gas water heaters and HVAC equipment with more efficient versions that run
on electricity. As Xcel Energy sources more of the electrical grid’s energy from renewables and as more
people support renewable energy, powering appliances with electricity will become an important way to
avoid greenhouse gas emissions and reach our goal.
Who are the target audiences?
Most of the opportunities for beneficial electrification reside in the residential sector, so residents and
multi-family building owners and property managers are the target audiences.
Strategy 9: Share educational materials on new and emerging electric appliance
alternatives and EV chargers to residents.
Actions Resources/Partners
9A: Promote funding and utility rebates to electrify appliances like air
and ground source heat pumps, water heaters, clothes dryers, and
electric yard tools.
➢ Silverwood Park
➢ Library
➢ City movie nights
➢ Chamber of Commerce
➢ Village Notes
➢ Student Green Team
and Ecology Club
➢ Boy and Girl Scouts
➢ Kiwanis
➢ Northeast Voyagers
9B: Share information at events, local businesses, City website and
communication channels, and include in rental license renewals and
permitting processes.
9C: Create a fridge magnet of new appliance options and programs for
replacement to distribute to residents.
Strategy 10: Evaluate the condition of existing City equipment and develop a predicted
replacement schedule and funding.
Actions Resources/Partners
10A: Work with City departments to incorporate electric appliance
alternatives and fleet electrification into the purchasing plan and
account for changes in equipment cost in financial planning.
➢ Parks and
Environmental
Commissioners
➢ Utility rebates
➢ Inflation Reduction Act
10B: Utilize grants and available rebates for alternative outdoor power
equipment.
Saint Anthony Village Energy Action Plan 34
10C: Convene group of local government entities to share
electrification practices.
Strategy 11: Facilitate peer-to-peer learning from residents who have implemented
electrification measures to those interested.
Actions Resources/Partners
11A: Create an event or incorporate sharing into existing events for
community members to learn about personal experiences
transitioning to electric appliances.
➢ Citizens for
Sustainability
➢ Village Notes
➢ Student Green Team
and Ecology Club
➢ Boy and Girl Scouts
➢ Kiwanis
➢ Northeast Voyagers
11B: Create and share testimonials via City communication channels to
inspire others to transition.
Strategy 12: Create a targeted campaign for electrically heated homes to switch to air
source heat pumps (ASHPs).
Actions Resources/Partners
12A: Use mapping tools and data to identify electrically heated homes
by census group block.
➢ Air Source Heat Pump
Collaborative
➢ U.S. Census
12B: Create a postcard to send to residents in census group blocks that
have a high proportion of electrically heated homes about the benefits
of ASHPs.
Saint Anthony Village Energy Action Plan 35
Community Resources for Implementation
For successful implementation, the Energy Action Team identified community resources in Saint
Anthony Village that can support the strategies.
Schools Kwanis Club Chamber of
Commerce
Faith
communities
Mobile Home
Parks
Apartments and
Senior Living
Facilitites
Sports boosters Parks groups Citizens for
Sustainability
Green Team at
High School
Boy Scouts/Girl
Scouts
Sister City in
Finland Village Fest Night to Unite Fire/Police/
Public Works
Cub Foods
Community
Rooms
Municipal liquor
stores
Village People
Facebook group
Community
Center
Village Notes
Newsletter
Silverwood Park Walkable hubs Northeaster
Newsletter
Committed
citizenry
Saint Anthony Village Energy Action Plan 36
APPENDIX A: WORK PLAN
Focus Area: Energy Efficiency
Strategy Tactics Lead Support
Q2
2025
Q3
2025
Q4
2025
Q1
2026
Q2
2026
Q3
2026
Strategy 1: Create a campaign to
promote the Home Energy Squad to
residents.
1A: Create outreach materials like flyers and
door hangers to mail and drop door-to-door to
older homes. PiE
City, Citizens
for
Sustainability
1B: Table at community and City events,
promote in City communications (e-newsletters,
social media) to share audits as the first step to
energy efficiency.
City, Citizens
for
Sustainability,
PEC PiE
Strategy 2: Create a campaign to
promote building energy assessments
to businesses.
2A: Use Chamber of Commerce communication
channels and meetings to share energy
resources. PiE
City,
Chamber of
Commerce
2B: Partner with business groups to share
resources and identify champions in the
business community to highlight as success
stories for marketing.
City,
Chamber of
Commerce PiE
2C: Go door-to-door to businesses to share
about energy efficiency assessments and
recommendations for projects.
City, Program
Implementor PiE
Strategy 3: Share energy efficiency
resources, funding, and programs to
help residents reduce energy use,
including low-income residents.
3A: Provide City Sustainability staff as
connection for people to ask questions and find
information on energy resources. City PiE
3B: Find grants and funding sources to help
provide free or reduced home energy audits. PiE City
3C: Cultivate partnerships with local
organizations, food shelves, libraries, schools,
and parks to share energy efficiency resources
with the public. Use joint communication
channels and events to share resources. City PiE
Strategy 4: Communicate with rental
property managers about energy
efficiency improvement opportunities
for facilities and residents.
4A: Reach out to multi-family building owners
and managers, retail spaces, nonprofits, and
senior living facilities to promote energy
assessments and offer resources like energy
kits, lighting sensors, lowering energy bills, and
energy education. PiE City
Saint Anthony Village Energy Action Plan 37
Strategy Tactics Lead Support
Q2
2025
Q3
2025
Q4
2025
Q1
2026
Q2
2026
Q3
2026
4B: Send mailers and utility bill inserts sharing
energy information and translate materials into
other languages when appropriate. PiE City
4C: Include energy resources and information in
property license renewal channels.
City, Finance
and Code
Official City
Staff PiE
Saint Anthony Village Energy Action Plan 38
Focus Area: Renewable Energy
Strategy Tactics Lead Support
Q2
2025
Q3
2025
Q4
2025
Q1
2026
Q2
2026
Q3
2026
Strategy 5: Create a targeted campaign
for residents to partake in utility
renewable energy subscription programs
and community solar gardens.
5A: Use Partners in Energy mapping tools and data to
identify where people have not opted in yet and
target those areas. PiE City
5B: Create a guide that shares available programs
and renewable options, and best practices for
homeowners and renters to select programs that fit
their needs. PiE City
5C: Communicate via newsletter, social media, event
tabling, and mailed materials to encourage support
for renewables. PiE
City, Citizens
for
Sustainability
5D: Use current events in messaging and existing
celebrations, like Earth Day, to align campaign with
people’s desires to take action for the environment. PiE City, PEC
Strategy 6: Create campaigns to increase
renewable energy support for businesses
and multi-family building owners.
6A: Find and create lists of property owners and
managers of businesses and multifamily buildings. City PiE
6B: Partner with Chamber of Commerce to
communicate with businesses about renewable
energy opportunities through presentations at
meetings, success stories, and newsletter content.
City,
Chamber
of
Commerce PiE
6C: Include messaging on environmental impacts and
how renewables can help reach sustainability goals
and drive customer support. PiE City
Strategy 7: Promote information
regarding on-site solar including funding,
utility rebates, city permitting
requirements, and information on
installers.
7A: Share federal, state, and utility incentives for
residents and businesses to support on-site solar
installations. PiE City
7B: Include on-site solar information in City welcome
packet when a new resident moves to St. Anthony
Village. City PiE
Saint Anthony Village Energy Action Plan 39
Strategy Tactics Lead Support
Q2
2025
Q3
2025
Q4
2025
Q1
2026
Q2
2026
Q3
2026
Strategy 8: Explore solar panel
installation on municipal facilities.
8A: Seek funding from government programs and
integrate implementation costs into the annual
budget. City PiE
8B: Lead by example by sharing municipal solar
projects as demonstrations and educational
initiatives. City PiE
Saint Anthony Village Energy Action Plan 40
Focus Area: Electrification
Strategy Tactics Lead Support
Q2
2025
Q3
2025
Q4
2025
Q1
2026
Q2
2026
Q3
2026
Strategy 9: Share educational materials
on new and emerging electric appliance
alternatives and EV chargers to residents.
9A: Promote funding and utility rebates to
electrify appliances like air and ground
source heat pumps, water heaters, clothes
dryers, and electric yard tools. PiE City
9B: Share information at events, local
businesses, City website and communication
channels, and include in rental license
renewals and permitting processes. City
PiE, PEC, Citizens
for Sustainability,
Chamber of
Commerce
9C: Create a fridge magnet of new appliance
options and programs for replacement to
distribute to residents. PiE City
Strategy 10: Evaluate the condition of
existing City equipment and develop a
predicted replacement schedule and
funding.
10A: Work with City departments to
incorporate electric appliance alternatives
and fleet electrification into the purchasing
plan and account for changes in equipment
cost in financial planning.
City,
PEC PiE
10B: Utilize grants for alternative outdoor
power equipment.
City,
PEC PiE
10C: Convene group of local government
entities to share electrification practices. PiE City
Strategy 11: Facilitate peer-to-peer
learning from residents who have
implemented electrification measures to
those interested.
11A: Create an event or incorporate sharing
into existing events for community members
to learn about personal experiences
transitioning to electric appliances. PiE
City, Citizens for
Sustainability
11B: Create and share testimonials via City
communication channels to inspire others to
transition. PiE City
Strategy 12: Create a targeted campaign
for electrically heated homes to switch to
air source heat pumps.
12A: Use mapping tools and data to identify
electrically heated homes by census group
block. PiE City
12B: Create a postcard to send to residents
in census group blocks that have high
proportion of electrically heated homes
about the benefits of ASHPs. PiE City
Saint Anthony Village Energy Action Plan 41
APPENDIX B: XCEL ENERGY’S PARTNERS IN ENERGY
PLANNING PROCESS
About Xcel Energy’s Partners in Energy
Xcel Energy is an electric and natural gas utility that provides the energy that powers millions of homes
and businesses across eight Western and Midwestern states. Each community Xcel Energy serves has its
own unique priorities and vision for its energy future. The energy landscape is dynamically changing with
communities leading the way in setting energy and sustainability goals. To continue to innovatively
support their communities, Xcel Energy launched Partners in Energy in the summer of 2014 as a
collaborative resource with tailored services to complement each community’s vision. The program
offerings include support to develop an energy action plan or electric vehicle plan, tools to help
implement the plan and deliver results, and resources designed to help each community stay informed
and achieve their outlined goals.
Plan Development Process
The content of this plan is derived from a series of planning workshops held in the community with a
planning team committed to representing local energy priorities and implementing plan strategies. The
engagement process, which ran from July 2024 to November 2024, included three workshops and one
virtual presentation. The planning process built on the Saint Anthony Village Climate Plan, which was
created through a separate process and was adopted by the City in 2023.
Saint Anthony Village Energy Action Plan 42
Workshop 1: What should Saint Anthony Village’s energy future look like?
July 2024
Figure 16: Energy Action Team members get to know each other in an icebreaker at the start of the
workshop
The Energy Action Team learned about Saint Anthony Village’s energy baseline. They also reviewed Saint
Anthony Village’s existing energy and sustainability initiatives, including the Climate Plan. Building on
the Climate Plan, the team worked within three focus areas to brainstorm community assets that could
help the plan be successful. They also drafted a vision statement to describe their community’s energy
future.
Virtual Meeting: What utility programs are available in Saint Anthony Village?
September 2024
At this virtual presentation, team members learned information about the utility programs available to
Saint Anthony Village residents and businesses. Energy efficiency programs included energy audits for
homes and businesses, equipment rebates for high-efficiency appliances and commercial equipment,
lighting assessments for businesses, and many more. Renewable energy programs included
subscription-based programs and on-site programs that require equipment installation. Team members
asked questions and considered which programs would suit their community best.
Saint Anthony Village Energy Action Plan 43
Workshop 2: How will Saint Anthony Village take action to reach its energy and climate
goals?
September 2024
Figure 17: Team members learn how Saint Anthony Village can reach its greenhouse gas emissions
reduction goal
The Energy Action Team reviewed a model for how Saint Anthony Village could meet the greenhouse
gas emissions reduction goal. They brainstormed benefits of taking energy action, as well as barriers to
taking energy action in the Saint Anthony Village community. They reviewed the strategies from the
Climate Plan and added, refined, and prioritized strategies for the Energy Action Plan.
Saint Anthony Village Energy Action Plan 44
Workshop 3: How will the community carry out energy action in Saint Anthony Village?
November 2024
Figure 18: Team members work together to update a strategy
The Energy Action Team reviewed the strategies they drafted in the previous workshop, voting on the
ones that were a) most exciting, b) the highest priority and c) could be removed from the plan. After
discussing the results, team members planned the actions for specific strategies, identifying interested
parties, champions and small steps for accomplishing each of them. The team discussed the planning
process and celebrated their accomplishment.
Saint Anthony Village Energy Action Plan 45
APPENDIX C: BASELINE ENERGY ANALYSIS
Data was provided by Xcel Energy and CenterPoint Energy for all Saint Anthony Village premises for
2021–2023. Xcel Energy provides electric service to the community, while CenterPoint Energy provides
natural gas service. The data helped the Energy Action Team understand Saint Anthony Village’s energy
use and opportunities for energy conservation and renewable energy. Data included in this section
establishes a baseline against which progress toward goals will be compared in the future.
Electricity Premises
Most Saint Anthony Village premises are residential. Of the 4,538 distinct electricity premises in Saint
Anthony Village in 2023, 92% (4,159) are residential, 7.7% (348) are commercial and industrial, and the
remaining 0.7% are municipal buildings (31). The number of natural gas premises is lower than
electricity premises since multi-family buildings tend to be individually metered for electricity but
metered at the building level for natural gas. In 2023, the total number of natural gas premises in Saint
Anthony Village was 3,273.
Table 10. Electricity premise counts by sector, 2021–2023
Sector 2021 2022 2023 Average
Residential 3,857 4,162 4,159 4,059
Commercial & Industrial 342 348 348 346
Municipal 31 31 31 31
Total 4,230 4,541 4,538 4,436
\
Saint Anthony Village Energy Action Plan 46
Electricity and Natural Gas Consumption and Trends by Sector
On average, the Saint Anthony Village community consumes 60 million kWh of electricity and 4.9 million
therms of natural gas across all sectors per year. Total energy consumption increased by 6% over the
baseline period, which can be attributed to an increase of 7.3% in natural gas consumption and a 2.5%
increase in electricity consumption.
Table 11. Total energy consumption by sector and fuel type, 2021–2023
Fuel Type Sector 2021 2022 2023 Average
Electricity
(kWh)
Residential 24,588,343 23,885,916 24,710,972 24,395,077
Commercial &
Industrial
32,403,883 33,142,307 33,718,933 33,088,374
Municipal 2,365,040 2,301,769 2,405,943 2,357,584
Total 59,357,266 59,329,992 60,835,848 59,841,035
Natural
Gas
(therm)
Residential 2,215,182 2,590,973 2,329,435 2,378,530
Commercial &
Industrial
2,220,277 2,717,325 2,428,696 2,455,433
Municipal 70,775 81,962 76,683 76,473
Total 4,506,234 5,390,260 4,834,814 4,910,436
Total
(MMBtu)
Residential 305,414 340,596 317,257 321,089
Commercial &
Industrial
332,590 384,814 357,919 358,441
Municipal 15,147 16,050 15,877 15,691
Total 653,150 741,460 691,053 695,221
Total energy consumption during the baseline period varied in each sector consistent with variation in
weather. Hotter summers (those with more cooling degree days) and colder winters (those with more
heating degree days) had higher energy consumption. For example, of the three years considered, Saint
Anthony Village’s natural gas consumption was at its highest level in 2022, which was also the coldest
year with the most heating degree days.
Table 12. Cooling degree and heating degree days, 2021–2023
2021 2022 2023
Cooling Degree Days 1,184 1,049 1,232
Heating Degree Days 6,731 7,849 6,565
Saint Anthony Village Energy Action Plan 47
Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Trends
Saint Anthony Village’s overall energy-related greenhouse gas emissions remained steady from 2021–
2023. However, a disaggregation by fuel type shows electricity emissions decreased by 10.2% while
natural gas emissions increased by 7.3% during this time. To calculate Saint Anthony Village’s energy-
related emissions, an emissions factor is used. This emissions factor describes the amount of CO2
emitted per unit of energy (Table 14). Specifically, the certified emissions factors from Xcel Energy’s
Upper Midwest Fuel Mix and a standard emissions factor for natural gas emissions were used. As Xcel
Energy completes third-party verification, the emissions factors used during the planning process to
estimate greenhouse gas emissions may change slightly.
Table 13. Energy-related greenhouse gas emissions in MTCO2e, 2021–2023
Fuel Type Sector 2021 2022 2023 Average
Electricity Residential 7,038 6,360 6,198 6,532
Commercial & Industrial 9,275 8,825 8,458 8,852
Municipal 677 613 604 631
Total 16,989 15,797 15,260 16,016
Natural Gas
Residential 11,756 13,751 12,363 12,623
Commercial & Industrial 11,783 14,421 12,889 13,031
Municipal 376 435 407 406
Total 23,915 28,607 25,659 26,060
Total Residential 18,794 20,110 18,561 19,155
Commercial & Industrial 21,058 23,246 21,347 21,884
Municipal 1,053 1,048 1,010 1,037
Total 40,904 44,404 40,919 42,076
Table 14. Emissions factors used to calculate energy-related greenhouse gas emissions, 2021–202310
Fuel Type 2021 2022 2023
Electricity Emissions Factor (lbs/MWh) 631 587 553
Natural Gas Emissions Factor (MTCO2e/Dth) 0.05307 0.05307 0.05307
10 Xcel Energy 2022. Carbon Dioxide Emission Intensities.
Saint Anthony Village Energy Action Plan 48
Energy Costs
In total, Saint Anthony Village premises spent an annual average of $12.7 million on energy during the
baseline period. Saint Anthony Village residential premises made up almost half of that spending ($6.1
million or 49%), while commercial and industrial premises made up most of the other half. A small
fraction of the spending was from municipal premises. Residential premises spent an annual average of
$1,488 per premise on fuel costs. Commercial premises spent much more per premise on energy, with
an annual average of $17,675 per premise.
Table 15. Annual energy costs by sector and fuel type, 2021–2023
Fuel
Type
Sector 2021 2022 2023 Average Average
Annual
Cost Per
Premise
Electricity Residential $3,172,264 $3,426,112 $3,736,283 $3,444,886 $849
Commercial &
Industrial
$3,795,258 $4,452,379 $4,574,563 $4,274,067 $12,353
Municipal $302,540 $327,900 $346,282 $325,574 $10,502
Total $7,270,062 $8,206,391 $8,657,128 $8,044,527
Natural
Gas
Residential $2,049,090 $2,996,264 $2,806,563 $2,617,306 $645
Commercial &
Industrial
$1,462,939 $2,345,649 $2,051,913 $1,953,500 $5,646
Municipal $54,417 $80,190 $78,033 $70,880 $2,286
Total $3,566,446 $5,422,103 $4,936,509 $4,641,686
Total Residential $5,221,354 $6,422,376 $6,542,846 $6,062,192 $1,493
Commercial &
Industrial
$5,258,197 $6,798,028 $6,626,476 $6,227,567 $17,999
Municipal $356,957 $408,090 $424,315 $396,454 $12,789
Total $10,836,508 $13,628,494 $13,593,637 $12,686,213
Energy Burden
Energy burden is the percentage of income that residents spend on energy. Saint Anthony Village
residents who own their homes and make 30% or less of the median area income spend up to 12% of
their income on energy costs. This group comprises 177 households, 4% of the total households in the
city. Notably, energy burden is higher across almost every income group for homeowners than renters.
Saint Anthony Village Energy Action Plan 49
Table 16. Energy burden by unit occupancy and median income11
Energy Burden Household Count
Percent of Area
Median Income Own Rent Own Rent
0–30% 12% 5% 177 324
30–60% 4% 1% 292 453
60–80% 3% 1% 179 152
80–100% 2% 1% 342 171
100%+ 1% 1% 1322 718
Total 2.5% 1.7% 2312 1818
Program Participation and Savings
Saint Anthony Village already has a significant number of participants in energy efficiency programs
from Xcel Energy and CenterPoint Energy, resulting in energy savings for residents and commercial
customers. While fewer commercial and industrial premises participated during the baseline period,
their participation resulted in larger savings per premise. In total, participation in these commercial
programs saved an annual average of 603,022 kWh and 56,366 therms, while participation in residential
programs saved an annual average of 58,468 kWh and 17,739 therms.
Home Energy Squad is a residential program jointly offered by Xcel Energy and CenterPoint Energy, and
Xcel Energy also maintains a separate program designation for income-qualified residents. Table 17,
Table 18, and Table 20 show the Home Energy Squad participation and energy savings for Xcel Energy
and CenterPoint Energy separately. The Home Energy Squad participation counts for Xcel Energy and
CenterPoint Energy are not unique residents, and in most cases overlap; however, the electricity savings
are exclusive to Xcel Energy and the gas savings to CenterPoint Energy.
11 Source: Department of Energy Low-Income Energy Affordability Data Tool
Saint Anthony Village Energy Action Plan 50
Table 17. Annual Xcel Energy residential energy efficiency program participation and savings, 2021–2023
Residential Program 2021 2022 2023
Count Savings
(kWh)
Count Savings
(kWh)
Count Savings
(kWh)
Home Energy Audit 11 0 17 0 27 0
Home Energy Squad12 11 6,496 14 8,422 18 7,419
HomeSmart 6 0 6 0 5 0
Insulation Rebate 1 132 1 40 3 461
Refrigerator Recycling 15 11,680 8 6,013 18 14,218
Residential HVAC 149 54,513 78 21,706 56 24,772
Residential Saver's
Switch
92 96 3 3 39 41
Smart Thermostat 48 2,097 49 850 87 1,268
Total 333 75,014 176 37,034 253 48,179
Table 18. Annual Xcel Energy income-qualified energy efficiency program participation and savings,
2021–2023
Income-Qualified
Program
2021 2022 2023
Count Savings
(kWh)
Count Savings
(kWh)
Count Savings (kWh)
Home Energy Savings
Program
9 4,067 9 3,956 7 3,027
Low-Income Home
Energy Squad13
1 2,180 1 1,604 2 342
Total 10 6,247 10 5,560 9 3,369
12 Home Energy Squad is a program jointly provided by Xcel Energy and CenterPoint Energy. See Table
20 for the CenterPoint Energy data.
13 Low-Income Home Energy Squad is a program jointly provided by Xcel Energy and CenterPoint Energy,
though CenterPoint Energy does not have a separate program distinction for income-qualified residents.
See Table 20 for the CenterPoint Energy data.
Saint Anthony Village Energy Action Plan 51
Table 19. Annual Xcel Energy business energy efficiency program participation and savings, 2021–2023
Business Program 2021 2022 2023
Count Savings
(kWh)
Count Savings
(kWh)
Count Savings
(kWh)
Electric Rate Savings 6 -7,770 0 0 0 0
HVAC+R Efficiency 5 49,783 4 2,030 0 0
Lighting Efficiency 9 115,025 10 128,863 11 91,039
Multi-Family Building
Efficiency
2 99 2 9,094 2 4,886
Small Business Lighting 1 41,568 5 103,513 1 9,098
Smart Thermostat for
Businesses
2 929 3 27 4 1,846
Energy Design
Assistance
0 0 0 0 2 1,229,781
Fluid System
Optimization
0 0 0 0 1 29,237
Saver's Switch for
Business
0 0 0 0 6 18
Total 25 199,634 24 243,527 27 1,365,905
Saint Anthony Village Energy Action Plan 52
Table 20. Annual CenterPoint Energy residential energy efficiency program participation and savings,
2021–202314
Residential Program 2021 2022 2023
Count Savings
(therms)
Count Savings
(therms)
Count Savings
(therms)
Home Efficiency Rebates 151 17,868 96 12,475 109 13,771
Home Energy Squad15 17 728 2 59 26 1,150
Home Insulation
Rebates
12 1,750 4 456 29 3,629
New Home Construction
Rebates
2 48 0 0 0 0
Total 166 20,415 103 13,235 144 19,566
Table 21. Annual CenterPoint Energy income-qualified energy efficiency program participation and
savings, 2021–2023
Income-Qualified Program 2021 2022 2023
Count Savings
(therms)
Count Savings
(therms)
Count Savings
(therms)
Low-Income Free
Heating System Tune-Up
1 21 0 0 1 21
Low-Income Multi-
Family Housing Rebates
0 0 0 0 1 593
Low-Income
Weatherization
0 0 3 245 4 402
Total 1 21 3 245 6 1,016
14 The CenterPoint Energy programs DIY Efficiency, Home Energy Reports and School Kits are excluded
from this table.
15 Home Energy Squad is a program jointly provided by Xcel Energy and CenterPoint Energy. See Table
17 for the Xcel Energy data.
Saint Anthony Village Energy Action Plan 53
Table 22. Annual CenterPoint Energy business energy efficiency program participation and savings,
2021–202316
Commercial Sector
Programs
2021 2022 2023
Count Savings
(kWh)
Count Savings
(kWh)
Count Savings
(kWh)
C&I Audit Services
(Natural Gas Energy
Analysis and Steam Trap
Audits)
2 1,258 0 0 1 0
C&I Heating and Water
Heating Rebates
4 11,682 10 14,669 43 19,931
Commercial Foodservice
Equipment Rebates
0 0 1 722 6 2,166
Energy Design
Assistance
0 0 0 0 2 95,210
Multi-Family Building
Efficiency
7 25 2 4,463 9 18,971
Total 13 12,965 13 19,854 61 136,278
Renewable Energy Support
There is support for renewable energy in Saint Anthony Village with 351 residential premises and 13
commercial/industrial premises subscribing to Xcel Energy renewable programs. These premises
respectively receive a total of 1.5 million kWh and 733,000 kWh of their electricity from renewable
sources. Furthermore, 57 residential premises and 9 commercial premises have on-site solar generation.
16 The CenterPoint Energy programs Code Compliance, Training and Education, and Benchmarking are
excluded from this table.
Saint Anthony Village Energy Action Plan 54
Table 23. Xcel Energy subscription renewable energy program support, 2023
Residential Commercial &
Industrial Total Renewable*Connect® &
Renewable*Connect Flex®17
Subscriber Count 273 0 273
Total Annual Electricity Subscribed (kWh) 1,024,075 0 1,024,075
Community Solar Gardens –
Solar*Rewards® Community
Subscriber Count 78 13 91
Total Annual Electricity Subscribed (kWh) 505,065 732,983 1,238,048
Total Xcel Energy Subscription Renewable
Energy Support
Subscriber Count 351 13 364
Total Annual Electricity Subscribed (kWh) 1,529,140 732,983 2,262,123
Percent of Sector Xcel Energy Electricity
Use 6.2% 3.4% 3.7%
Table 24. Xcel Energy on-site solar program support, 202318
On-site Solar – Solar*Rewards® and Net-
Metering Residential Commercial &
Industrial Total
Participant Count 57 9 66
Total Electricity Capacity (kW) 491 190 681
17 The Windsource® program is now called Renewable*Connect Flex®.
18 Source: Xcel Energy Community Energy Report for Saint Anthony Village, 2023
Saint Anthony Village Energy Action Plan 55
APPENDIX D: METHODOLOGY FOR MEASURING
SUCCESS
As part of implementation support, Partners in Energy will provide biannual progress reports for Xcel
Energy participation and savings data for Saint Anthony Village. All goals will be measured against Saint
Anthony Village’s three-year baseline of 2021–2023 data unless otherwise noted.
The following section defines the three-year baseline against which progress is measured, including Xcel
Energy and CenterPoint Energy program(s) included in the baseline.
The savings for residential and commercial energy efficiency are modeled to persist beyond the year of
installation. For example, if an energy efficient furnace that results in energy savings is installed in one
year, we count the savings for the installation year as well as for succeeding years. For the purposes of
this Energy Action Plan, the first year of implementation is equivalent to year one for energy efficiency,
and savings accumulate from that point forward.
Community-wide Goal
The goal is from Saint Anthony Village’s Climate Plan.19
Saint Anthony Village will reduce energy-related greenhouse gas emissions 80% by 2040 compared to
a 2005 baseline.
19 Saint Anthony Village Climate Plan, 2023
Saint Anthony Village Energy Action Plan 56
Focus Area Goals
Residential Energy Efficiency
• Increase residential energy efficiency savings by 75%, resulting in 2.1 million kWh and 652,000
therms saved from 2025–2030
Table 25. Residential sector annual targets and goal totals
Utility
Average Annual
Business as
Usual
Participation20
Annual
Participation
Target
2025–2030
Energy Action
Plan Energy
Savings
2025–2030
Energy Action
Plan GHG
Savings
(MT CO2e)
Xcel Energy 258 452 2,148,687 kWh 273
CenterPoint Energy 138 241 651,895 therms 2,412
Commercial Energy Efficiency
• Increase commercial energy efficiency savings by 50%, resulting in 19 million kWh and 1.8
million therms saved from 2025–2030
Table 26. Commercial sector annual targets and goal totals
Utility
Average Annual
Business as
Usual
Participation21
Annual
Participation
Target
2025–2030
Energy Action
Plan Energy
Savings
2025–2030
Energy Action
Plan GHG
Savings
(MT CO2e)
Xcel Energy 25 38 18,995,193 kWh 3,460
CenterPoint Energy 29 44 1,775,519 therms 9,423
Renewable Energy
• Increase residential participation in Xcel Energy renewable energy programs by 3% annually
• Increase commercial participation in Xcel Energy renewable energy programs by three
participants annually
This goal will measure program participation by residents and businesses in Xcel Energy’s renewable
subscription programs. The programs currently offered by Xcel Energy are Renewable*Connect Flex,
Solar*Rewards Community, Solar*Rewards, and Net Metering. Total participation targets by sector are
shown in Table 27. Renewable energy kWh are aggregated from participation in community solar
20 Average annual residential participation is measured over the three-year baseline period of 2021–
2023.
21 Average annual commercial participation is measured over the three-year baseline period of 2021–
2023.
Saint Anthony Village Energy Action Plan 57
gardens, Renewable*Connect, and Renewable*Connect Flex (formerly Windsource). Electricity
generated from on-site solar is not included in this total because the data is not available. Greenhouse
gas emissions avoided only include participants in Renewable*Connect and Renewable*Connect Flex
(formerly Windsource), where customers retain the renewable energy certificate (REC). In the baseline
period, there were no business subscribers to Renewable*Connect or Renewable*Connect Flex. We do
not include any business subscribers to these programs in the model, which is why there are no
projected greenhouse gases avoided in the business sector.
Table 27. Renewable energy goal totals
Sector
2030 Business
as Usual
Participation22
2030 Energy
Action Plan
Participation
2025–2030
Energy Action
Plan Renewable
Energy kWh
2025–2030
Energy Action
Plan
Renewable
Energy GHG
Avoided
(MT CO2e)
Residential 401 476 9,287,202 kWh 988
Commercial 22 40 5,125,188 kWh 0
Electrification
• 10 residential participants annually in Xcel Energy electrification programs
Because the electrification programs from Xcel Energy were new in 2024, there is no historical data, so
the Energy Action Team set an initial annual target of 10 residential participants. The electrification
programs from Xcel Energy include rebates that replace home heating equipment that only comes from
natural gas with an electric alternative, such as an air or ground source heat pump and rebates that
replace natural gas water heaters with a heat pump water heater. The secondary fuel source for air
source heat pumps can be either natural gas or electricity, which is triggered when temperatures drop
below a certain setpoint.
22 This assumes that 2023 participation remains the same through 2030.
FUTURE COUNCIL AGENDA ITEMS
Date Type Staff Present /
Contributing
Packet Due
Date
2025
April 8 Work
Session
City Council
City Manager April 1
April 8 Regular
Planning Commission Items from March
Quarterly Donations & Grants
Hennepin County Commissioner Irene Fernando
Fire Annual Report
Arbor Day Proclamation
Earth Day Proclamation
Energy Action Plan
Quarterly Goals Update
City Council
City Manager
Fire Dept
Sustain. Coord.
April 1
April 22 Work
Session Fire Department Future Staffing Needs
City Council
City Manager
Fire Chief
April 15
April 22 Regular
Finance Annual Report
Insurance Renewal & Tort Limits- Consent
Road Improvements and Assessments- PUBLIC HEARING
City Council
City Manager
Finance Director
WSB
April 15
May 13 Work
Session Student community development project presentations
City Council
City Manager May 6
May 13 Regular Planning Commission items from April
Villager of the Year and Business of the Year
City Council
City Manager May 6
May 27 Work
Session Rental Ordinance Review
City Council
City Manager May 20
May 27 Regular
City Council
City Manager May 20
June 10 Work
Session
City Council
City Manager June 3
June 10 Regular Planning Commission Items from May
Authorize preparation of feasibility study for 2026 street project
City Council
City Manager June 3
June 24 Work
Session Discuss Initial Debt Levy/Updated Street Improvement Plan
City Council
City Manager
Finance Director
June 17
June 24 Regular City Council
City Manager June 17
July 8 Work
Session 2026 Initial Property Tax Levy Scenarios
City Council
City Manager
Finance Director
July 1
July 8 Regular
Planning Commission items from June
Quarterly Donations & Grants
Audit Report
Quarterly Goals Update
City Council
City Manager
Finance Director
July 1
FUTURE COUNCIL AGENDA ITEMS
Date Type Staff Present /
Contributing
Packet Due
Date
July 22 Work
Session
City Council
City Manager July 15
July 22 Regular
Liquor Operations Mid Year Report
VillageFest Presentation
Night to Unite Presentation
Night to Unite Proclamation
City Council
City Manager
Liquor Op Mgr
Police Chief
July 15
August 12 Work
Session Discuss Updated Levy Scenarios/Detailed General Fund Budget
City Council
City Manager
Finance Director
August 5
August 12 Regular Planning Commission items from July
Approve 2026 Feasibility Study and Order Plans and Specs
City Council
City Manager August 5
August 26 Work
Session
City Council
City Manager
City Planner
August 19
August 26 Regular 2026 Proposed Budget & Levy Presentation
City Council
City Manager
Finance Director
August 19
September 9 Work
Session
City Council
City Manager
City Planner
September 2
September 9 Regular
Commissioner MaryJo McGuire Presentation
Planning Commission items from August
2026 Preliminary Operating Budget and Debt Levy-PUBLIC HEARING
Students in Leadership-Consent
City Council
City Manager
Finance Director
Engineer
September 2
September 23 Work
Session
City Council
City Manager September 16
September 23 Regular
Spirit of St. Anthony Award
Fire Prevention Presentation
Planning Commission items from August
City Council
City Manager
Fire Dept
September 16
October 14 Work
Session 2026 Long Term Capital Budget Plans
City Council
City Manager
Finance Director
October 7
October 14 Regular
Preliminary Certification of Delinquent Waste Hauler Accounts-
Consent Agenda
Preliminary Certification of Delinquent Utility Accounts-Consent
Agenda
Planning Commission items from September
City Council
City Manager October 7
October 28 Work
Session 2026 Utility Rates and Budgets
City Council
City Manager
Finance Director
October 21
October 28 Regular Quarterly Donations & Grants
Quarterly Goals Update
City Council
City Manager
Finance Director
October 21
November 10 Work
Session Roles and Expectations for City Commissions Discussion City Council
City Manager November 3
FUTURE COUNCIL AGENDA ITEMS
Date Type Staff Present /
Contributing
Packet Due
Date
November 10 Regular
Planning Commission items from October
1st Reading Water, Sewer, & Stormwater-PUBLIC HEARING
Presentation on Water and Sewer Rates
Canvass election results
Approval of CIP
City Council
City Manager
Finance Director
November 3
November 17 Work
Session Commission Interviews City Council
City Manager November 10
November 25 Regular
Fire Prevention Poster Winners
2nd Reading and Adoption Water, Sewer, & Stormwater
Street Project Approve Plans & Specifications, Authorize
Advertisement for Bids
City Council
City Manager November 18
December 16 Work
Session
City Council
City Manager December 9
December 16 Regular
Planning Commission items from November
Appoint Parks and Planning Commissioners and Chair/Vice Chairs
Setting Salary of City Manager
Authorizing Transfers & Closing of Specified Funds
Setting the 2025 City & HRA Budgets and Final Property Tax Levy -
PUBLIC HEARING
2026 Fee Schedule
MS4
Quarterly Goals update
Final reading and adoption of water, sewer, & stormwater
City Council
City Manager
Finance Director December 9
December 23 Regular (Typically Cancelled)
2026
January 13 Work
Session Tobacco Ordinance Revisions
City Council
City Manager
Code Official
ANSR
January 6
January 13 Regular
Planning Commission items from December
Housekeeping Resolutions
Resolution for the Street Improvement Bond Reimbursement
Quarterly Donations & Grants
NYFS Agreement
Outside Orgs-Council
City Council
City Manager
NYFS
January 6
January 27 Work
Session 2026 Goals Draft City Council
City Manager January 20
January 27 Regular Public Works Snow Plowing Operations presentation
City Council
City Manager
PW Director
January 20
February 10 Work
Session
City Council
City Manager February 3
February 10 Regular
Planning Commission items from January
Public Hearing-2027 Budget Calendar and Process
2026 Planning Commission Work Plan- (motion only)
2026 Parks and Environmental Commission Work Plan- (motion only)
Adoption of Strategic Plan
City Council
City Manager
Finance Director
February 3
March 10 Work
Session
City Council
City Manager March 3
FUTURE COUNCIL AGENDA ITEMS
Date Type Staff Present /
Contributing
Packet Due
Date
March 10 Regular
Planning Commission Items from February
Public Works Annual Report
NineNorth Presentation
City Council
City Manager
PW Director
March 3
March 24 Work
Session
City Council
City Manager March 17
March 24 Regular
Police Annual Report
Call for Public Hearing on Road Improvements and Assessments
Order the Preparation of Assessments
City Council
City Manager
Police Dept
WSB
March 17
April 14 Work
Session
City Council
City Manager April 7
April 14 Regular
Planning Commission Items from March
Quarterly Donations & Grants
Fire Annual Report
Arbor Day Proclamation
Earth Day Proclamation
Quarterly Goals Update
City Council
City Manager
Fire Dept April 7
April 28 Work
Session
City Council
City Manager April 21
April 28 Regular
Finance Annual Report
Insurance Renewal & Tort Limits- Consent
Road Improvements and Assessments- PUBLIC HEARING
City Council
City Manager
Finance Director
WSB
April 21
May 12 Work
Session
City Council
City Manager May 5
May 12 Regular Planning Commission items from April
Villager of the Year and Business of the Year
City Council
City Manager May 5
May 26 Work
Session
City Council
City Manager May 19
May 26 Regular
City Council
City Manager May 19