Local Communities Prepare to Reduce Their Carbon Footprint

On January 8, Governor Tom Wolf signed an executive order: the state of Pennsylvania would work to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 26 percent by 2025 and 80 percent by 2050.

“Today I am proud to declare the commonwealth’s intention to address climate change, the most critical environmental threat facing the world,” Wolf stated in his official announcement.

It was a move that was applauded by many as a good first step against the growing challenges of climate change and a change for which many locally have been preparing for over a year.

That was when Phoenixville, West Chester, and Downingtown, signed a pledge to transition their communities to 100% renewable energy (including heat and transportation) by 2050. They were followed by pledges from East Bradford Township and Kennett Townships.

The resolutions were part of a Sierra Club initiative encouraging cities and towns to take the lead on climate change by committing to solutions that help achieve 100% clean, renewable energy in the next 30 years. A commitment that if reached, will put these cities in line with Governor Wolf’s order.

“To achieve 80% emissions reductions we’ll pretty much have to be at 100% renewable energy by 2050,” says Jim Wylie, the Sierra Club’s Southeastern Pennsylvania's Group Chair and regional leader on the Ready for 100 initiative. "The remaining 20% of emissions will likely come from hard to replace emissions from jet fuel, agriculture (cows) and landfills.”

Getting Ready for 100

So with the pledges firmly on the books and the state now in support, where do these commitments stand?

“Step one was passing the resolution. Done,” says Wylie. “Step two is drafting a transition plan.”

The original West Chester resolution was signed by West Chester Borough Council in September of 2017. It called for a draft of the transition plan to be completed by April 22, 2019. However, the original resolution had West Chester Borough going it alone.

“We are not going to make that deadline, but for a good reason,” says Wylie.

West Chester Borough is now working with the other six members of the West Chester Area Council of Governments to commission a professional energy transition plan for the greater West Chester area.

“We are currently reviewing proposals now, and if all goes according to plan we will have a community-wide energy plan in place by the end of this summer,” says Wylie.

Then comes step three - take action. Stay tuned.

Cara Corridoni is a former member of the West Chester Sustainable Advisory Committee and editor of Hello, West Chester, a blog dedicated to sharing West Chester news and happenings.