Climate Action Plan Moving Forward In Doylestown Township

DOYLESTOWN TOWNSHIP, PA — The township's Environmental Advisory Council is moving forward on the development of a Climate Action Plan aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the township.

During Tuesday night's meeting of the board of supervisors, EAC member Kurt Sawyer updated the board on the council's progress.

"From the EAC's perspective, climate change is one of our most significant challenges. The board took the first step in addressing with adopting the goals of Ready For 100, which is 100 percent renewable electricity by 2035 and 100 percent clean energy for all uses by 2050. We are now taking the follow on step, which is to develop a Climate Action Plan."

The plan, said Sawyer, is intended to be a set of actions that the township can execute that will ultimately produce zero net greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

"We have a process in place that we are following and we anticipate it will take u to the end of this year and perhaps into next year to come back to you with a Climate Action Plan for your consideration," said Sawyer.

To begin the process, the EAC first had to answer the question, "What do we produce now in terms of greenhouse gases?"

To answer that question and determine a starting baseline, Sawyer said the EAC worked with a Penn State student; ICLEI, a global network of more than 2500 local and regional governments committed to sustainable urban development; and the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection to develop a greenhouse gas inventory of the township.

Not surprisingly, 49 percent of the greenhouse emissions are coming from transportation, said Sawyer.

Residential energy is the second largest producer at 32 percent, which is "a little smaller than what we thought it might be, but that's a function of the fact that our electrical supply is heavily nuclear right now, which keeps the greenhouse emissions from the residential and commercial sectors down somewhat," said Sawyer.

Sawyer said the EAC has also been meeting on a biweekly basis with representatives from Doylestown Borough to brainstorm possible actions steps that would benefit both municipalities. "There may be opportunities to take steps jointly with them, which would improve the impact and the reach.

"We are now in the process of modeling the various actions we have thought of and refining them," Sawyer told the supervisors. "The modeling that we are going to be doing is intended to quantify each of the potential steps so we can tell you how effective various kinds of things will be. We're also looking at how difficult they might be.

"There are things that are easy and high impact. We will definitely do those," he continued. "There are things that are hard and high impact. We will probably do some of those. The ones that are easy to do with low impact we will probably do. And the ones that are hard to do with low impact we will probably not do any of those.

"What we will come back to you with are a set of actions that can be implemented and will reduce our greenhouse gas emissions," said Sawyer. "We're not going to promise you at this point we can get to 100 percent, but we will let you know how far we think we can get.

"In reducing your greenhouse emissions, you also get cleaner air and water, a healthier living environment and better economic outcomes."

In other business,

• The supervisors voted unanimously to award part one of the township's 2023 road paving contract to the low bidder, James D. Morrissey, Inc. of Philadelphia, at a cost of $927,119. The project will include the following roads: Claremont Drive, Woodstone Drive, Dartmouth Drive, Brinker Drive, Quail Drive, Deerfield Lane, Mystic View Lane, Devon Lane, Ridings Lane and Longwood Circle.
• The supervisors voted to waive $6,500 in township fees for the Village Improvement Association's Village Fair to be held June 24 from 12 to 4 p.m. at Central Park. The Village Fair was first held in 1961 by an auxiliary organization to the VIA, The Doylestown Junior Women’s Club. For many years, the event brought together local nonprofit organizations to fund raise for Doylestown Hospital. Once again, the VIA will be bringing together the local nonprofit community, this time to help community members in need of assistance with food, shelter, and utility expenses.
• Manager Stephanie Mason announced that the township won statewide recognition in the Township Citizen Communication Contest sponsored by the Pennsylvania State Association for Township Supervisors (PSATS). The statewide contest celebrates outstanding efforts and achievements in citizen communication. The township won first place in the category of websites; second place in audiovisual communication for a Doylestown Fire Company recruitment video, a joint venture with Doylestown Borough; and third place in the category of most improved newsletter.

Upcoming events:

• April 22 – Drug Take Back Day. Unused and expired presciption drugs can be dropped off at the Doylestown Hospital and at Weis Market between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.
• April 29 – A Community Yard Sale will be held from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Central Park. Featured will be 35 vendors.
• June 7 – The Sounds of Summer kick off concert will feature Boat House Row with Yacht Rock.