Plymouth Township Council Commits to Renewable Energy

With an eye on improving the environment for future generations, the Plymouth Township Council on Monday unanimously approved a Ready for 100 Renewable Energy resolution pledging to reduce energy usage and incorporate more renewable energy in coming years.

Ready for 100 is a national initiative of the Sierra Club aimed at encouraging local communities to commit to using 100 percent clean energy. Locally, Ready for 100 was championed by Bill Sabey, who serves as chairman of the Plymouth Township Environmental Advisory Board. Sabey has coordinated with local governing bodies in several other Montgomery County municipalities, including Whitemarsh Township, to see that similar resolutions were adopted.

“You have a tremendous and exciting opportunity with this ordinance to make a difference,” Sabey told the Council. “You are not alone in making this commitment.”

Plymouth Township is one of 116 communities to adopt the resolution and one of 15 in southeastern Pennsylvania, Sabey said.

The township is the sixth municipality in Montgomery County to adopt the resolution, he said, adding “and we’re just getting started.”

The three-page resolution outlines the township’s commitment to using clean energy in its facilities and includes a pledge of 100 percent clean renewable electricity by 2035; 100 percent clean renewable energy when replacing heating system and transportation equipment by 2050; and a promise to incorporate the township’s vehicle fleet to 100 percent renewable energy sources by 2030 where feasible.

Township Council Vice Chairman Christopher Manero said he’s never seen anyone “as passionate” about an issue as Sabey is about making positive impacts on the environment.

“This represents a vision for the township,” Manero said. “We at the local level can do our part.”

Plymouth Township resident Brenda Murphy, who attended Monday’s meeting with her two sons as part of a Boy Scout merit badge, applauded the township for its effort and said the timing of the resolution adoption coincided with the scouts’ sustainability lesson.

To help propel the effort forward, the Plymouth Township Environmental Advisory Board will provide guidance for commissioning a committee, task force, and/or consultant to draft an energy transition plan for achieving the goals outlined in the resolution by Earth Day in 2020 or sooner.

The Ready 100 resolution also outlines the need for collaboration with other Montgomery County energy leaders and participation in acquiring aggregated procurement contracts for regional wind and solar energy. It also calls for Plymouth Township to continually work toward implementing energy efficient improvements and call on the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to set a goal of 100 percent renewable energy no later than 2050.