Plans for a 100-per-cent renewable energy neighbourhood on the site of the old municipal airport in Edmonton took a leap forward Tuesday.

The executive committee recommends $19.4 million be used for Stage 1 of the project's utility infrastructure needs.

The city will also retain control over the utilities for the neighbourhood which is expected to house 30,000 people.

"It leaves us the most options, which I think has served us well when we've kept doors open rather than closed doors moving through this process," said Mayor Don Iveson. "That's allowed us to be more creative."

The district energy sharing system at Blatchford will have three main features: energy exchange between buildings, shallow geo-exchange wells that store thermal energy in the summer for use in the winter, and recovery of heat from the sewer lines that run beneath the project.

"This will be a world-class development," said David Dodge, co-chair of the city's energy transition advisory committee.

David Dodge, co-chair of the city's Energy Transition Advisory Committee. (Nola Keeler/CBC) "You'd have to go all the way to Europe to see something this significant."

The project also includes the flexibility to include some passive homes, which are super-insulated and require only 10 per cent of the heating of a standard home.

"You can heat a passive house with two hair dryers — 2,000 watts," Dodge said.

Blatchford could also include net-zero homes, which produce as much energy as they consume.

"People find energy independence to be a very appealing thing so I have a feeling that will do well," he said.

Project will be 'self-funding'

Iveson said the project will pay for itself over time and won't need support from taxpayers.

"The City of Edmonton is essentially going to float the $19 million or so that it's going to take to build ... Phase 1 of the utility system," he said.

"We fully expect that will be recovered either by utility fees ... if we're running the utility or we may sell it holus-bolus to our utility partner who will then recover that cost through utility fees.

"The intent for this is to be self-funding over time."

If city council approves the $19.4 million, the city will begin looking for a utility partner to help build the district energy-sharing system.

"We've already had eight different firms express interest in working on this with the city," Iveson said.

Iveson expects lots on Blatchford could be sold as early as 2017, with occupancy possible in 2019, he said.

City council will vote on whether or not to provide the funding Thursday.