Officials promote transition to renewable energy
SCHUYLKILL TOWNSHIP >> The board of supervisors have unanimously approved a goal of transitioning to 100-percent renewable energy.
By taking action, Schuylkill Township becomes only the seventh Chester County, and the 111th U.S., municipality to do so. Similar resolutions have been passed by the states of California, Hawaii, the District of Columbia and more than 10 counties nationwide.
Jonathan Meyers introduced the resolution on behalf of the Schuylkill Township Environmental Advisory Council. The EAC unanimously recommended the resolution to the Board of Supervisors for consideration. Meyers noted that protecting residents’ health and safety should be compelling factors in the deliberations of the Board of Supervisors.
“The very first section of the resolution cites the commitment of the Board of Supervisors to the health, safety, livability, prosperity, independence, and security of Schuylkill Township and its residents,” Myers said. “Those six values and our commitment to them, are the best reasons to support a resolution for a clean energy transition.” He went on to explain that the health of residents “is currently threatened by dirty air that results from the use of fossil fuels for electricity, transportation, and heating.”
He cited the American Lung Association’s clean air report that gave all of Southeastern Pennsylvania a grade of “F” for air quality.
The resolution calls for cooperation “with other municipalities, including municipal members of the Phoenixville Regional Planning Committee, in the regional and national movement to transition to 100-percent clean and renewable energy, with the specific desire to transition to 100-percent clean renewable electricity by 2035 and 100 percent renewable energy for heat and transportation by 2050.”
Supervisor Jim Morrison recommended that a greater emphasis be placed on transportation. He cited that electric vehicles produce lower global warming emissions than gasolinepowered vehicles and that a significant amount of local emissions is related to transportation.
“Small communities can’t do this alone. Polluted air, extreme weather and flooding don’t respect municipal boundaries. This can best be addressed at the municipal level and for communities of our size, working together will be more effective and economical,” said Paula Kline from Chester County Ready for 100. “Schuylkill has the advantage that the Phoenixville Area comprehensive plan is underway and includes energy as a key element.” The West Chester Council of Governments is engaging in a joint clean energy plan for West Chester Borough and surrounding townships. “Schuylkill and Phoenixville could lead a similar effort.”
A representative for Montgomery County expressed appreciation for the Board’s leadership. He described the importance of leading by example and observed that Schuylkill is joining Uwchlan, Kennett Township, Downingtown, West Chester, East Bradford and Phoenixville in Chester County, Springfield in Montgomery County and Radnor in Delaware County in setting targets for 100 percent clean and renewable energy community-wide. Philadelphia recently committed to purchasing 20 percent of its municipal electricity from solar. Pittsburgh and other municipalities in 5 counties around Philadelphia are also looking at ways to transition to renewables and act on Gov. Tom Wolf’s new executive order establishing the first statewide goal to reduce carbon pollution in Pennsylvania in order to address climate disruption.
The Schuylkill resolution is just the most recent local action related to environmental stewardship. The township has a long history of concern both for open space and reducing pollutants. They very early on responded to Act 148 of 1973 which established Environmental Advisory Councils. In the first decade of this century, Supervisors authorized the purchase of renewable electricity as part of a state wide effort to reduce polluting emissions.
“This decision on the part of Schuylkill Township will inspire other local governments in the area,” said engineer Mark Connolly of the Pheonixville Area Green Team. “There is no more important task than cleaning up our energy system through efficiency, electrification and renewables. This township can take great pride in what they have initiated tonight on behalf of future generations.”
The Ready for 100 campaign is a nationwide campaign initiated by the Sierra Club in coordination with other groups to influence cities, regions, and states to commit to 100 percent of their energy coming from renewable sources for all three sectors by 2050 and for the electric grid by 2030. 105 cities in the United States have already committed to achieving 100 percent renewable energy by 2050.