By JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
As Bowling Green moves toward its goal of getting 100% of its energy from renewable sources by 2040, at least one council member is suggesting the city pump the brakes a bit.
The resolution tasks a committee of city staff and community members with creating a sustainability plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from city operations and electricity production.
Monday evening, City Council heard the second reading of the resolution calling for a Sustainability and Climate Action Plan, and approved a couple amendments to the proposal. Council member Rachel Phipps agreed with Mayor Mike Aspacher’s recommendation that any climate action plan be approved by the city’s Board of Public Utilities.
“Our city’s residents and partners in business and industry rely on our utility and its competitive rates. Seeking the board’s involvement and approval will be important,” Phipps said after the last meeting.
That addition, Phipps said, will help ease concerns about energy rate increases.
Council unanimously approved that amendment.
Phipps also put forth an amendment suggested by the mayor that the deadline for the final plan be set for June 2023.
Council member Bill Herald, however, asked that the plan be delayed until the end of 2023 to “give us that much more breathing room.”
“There’s a lot of heavy lifting with this,” he said. “We’re going to be blazing new trails.”
But Phipps said the June deadline would allow for items to be added to the budget if necessary.
The amendment was approved, with Herald casting the only “no” vote.
Herald also voiced more concerns – based on his analytics and strategic planning background, he said.
“I see this as kind of the cart before the horse,” he said.
The climate action plan has set the goal of net zero greenhouse emissions for city operations by 2040.
“It should be very important to us that we set the right goal,” Herald said.
“We have determined that the goal is to have zero percent non-renewables and 100% renewables,” he said. “We don’t have enough information to determine if that is the optimal mix.”
“We’re specifying a target that may not be the optimum target,” Herald said.
“That’s a dangerous route for us to go to predetermine a mix,” he said.
Council President Mark Hollenbaugh assured Herald that council will discuss that issue prior to voting on the resolution.
The resolution’s findings point out that the city already has much to be proud of, with nearly 40% of its electricity being produced from renewable sources.
City Council committed to the development of a climate action plan for Bowling Green at a February 2020 strategic planning meeting.
The first step in creating a Sustainability & Climate Action Plan is measuring the city’s greenhouse gas emissions. Primary greenhouse gases include carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide. Understanding the city’s current greenhouse gas emissions will allow the community to set goals and measure progress.
The resolution states that “bold action is required to avoid the worst impacts of climate change, and efforts to control climate change have many benefits such as cleaner air and water, improved health, local employment, cost savings for households, businesses, and the city, and the creation of a stronger and more resilient community.”
