Clean Energy
In September of 2017 the Sustainable Advisory Committee (SAC) submitted to Borough Council a proposed clean energy resolution committing the Borough to 100% renewable electricity community-wide by 2035 and 100% renewable energy for heat and transportation by 2050. Borough Council voted unanimously to adopt the resolution and the SAC has hit the ground running to draft a plan on how to achieve these goals.
Milestones
- 2008 – Borough facilities are powered by renewable energy through purchase of bundled wind renewable energy credits, currently under contract through 2022
- 2009 – Installed a 72kW solar canopy on the roof of the Chestnut Street Garage (see live energy production dashboard)
- 2010 – Council approves Climate Action Plan – commits to reducing GHG emissions in the borough by 10% in 10 years (2005 to 2015). An 11% emissions reduction was achieved.
- 2017 – resolution passed to set goals to transition to 100% renewable energy for the community
- 2018 – Joined with West Chester Area Council of Governments municipalities to issue an RFP for a regional energy plan to transition to 100% renewable energy
- 2019 - Hired the Cadmus Group to complete Energy Transition Plan for West Chester Area Council of Governments
- 2020 – Accepted the Cadmus plan, approved the formation of a Community Engagement initiative in collaboration with representatives from the other EAC/SAC members of the West Chester Area Council of Governments
Next Steps
Review, refine and adopt a structured Energy Transition Plan (early 2020)
- Explore aggregated electricity from regional renewable energy generation sources (2020)
- Identify potential projects leveraging Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy (C-PACE) and on-site or virtual Power Purchase Agreements (2020)
- Continue community education and feedback via the West Chester Area Clean Energy Future initiative