Cutting carbon costs

Town hopes to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and protect natural areas in number of budget initiatives

The town of Stratford is helping residents get ahead of an anticipated federal carbon tax.

Initiatives aimed at promoting sustainability and reducing greenhouse emissions take up some significant space in the town’s budget.

Mayor David Dunphy, who chairs the town’s sustainability committee, said reducing the town’s carbon footprint is an important priority, especially with the federal government’s plan to soon introduce a carbon tax.

“With the carbon tax coming down the pipe, if we can reduce the use of fossil fuels by the town and its residents it’s going to have a positive impact going forward,” said Dunphy. “It will cause residents to pay less in other taxes down the road.”

One of the most visible changes that could come this year is a plan to install solar panels on the town’s centre.

The town has allocated $200,000 for the project, with hopes that up to 50 per cent can be covered by government grants.

Dunphy said it’s an item that council has wanted to put on the budget for the past several years.

“It kept getting cut the past number of years but we’ve decided we had to do something. So we’re going to come up with a plan to install the solar panels,” said Dunphy, adding that the plan is expected to save 32.4 tons of greenhouse gas emissions and $15,000 in energy costs annually.

Council is also working on a community energy plan, which will analyze carbon emissions created within the town.

Dunphy said once they have an idea on the amount of emissions, $15,000 will be used to help businesses and residents lower their carbon footprint.

That could mean rebates and incentives for LED lighting, carpooling and other initiatives.

Money is also being allocated for public transit, with council hoping to build new bus shelters and work with Trius Transit, Charlottetown and Cornwall to develop a new app with the bus schedule and an electronic ticket system.

Residents are also being encouraged to get more active, with $500,000 earmarked for the development of a new park on the waterfront. That initiative is subject to the acquisition of land as well as receiving New Deal Funding, which is also being counted on to complete the Trans-Canada Trail along Mason Road.

Although there is no money allocated for it, the town will also look at developing a strategy of protecting natural areas.

Dunphy said there has already been one workshop held to start the process.

“The idea is to determine which natural areas in Stratford should be protected and then come up with a plan to do that,” said Dunphy.

“We have to go through a process of defining what a natural area is, what should be protected, identify those areas and then determine how to preserve them.”