2022 Climate & Energy Forum
Solebury’s Climate & Energy Forum set out to engage with our community to discuss and hear about ideas that residents have in regard to helping mitigate the effects of climate change, and also to learn about the broader aspects of sustainability.
The event was held at the New Hope Solebury High School café on October 13, 2022 and achieved an attendance of more than 40. Speakers included Neale Dougherty, Bucks County Planning Commission Director of Sustainability, Peter Brussock of The Elm Group, Shannon Pendleton of Sanderson Sustainable Design, and Jim Mansfield. Our residents then formed into small groups and discussed topics arriving at recommendations and presenting back to the group as a whole.
Mark Baum Baicker, chair of the Solebury Township Board of Supervisors, introduced the event. Here are a few extracts from his opening talk:
- “Solebury has committed to sustainability for many years, and you can see that it is a central theme in our Comprehensive Plan which is due for renewal in 2024.
- "We have more recently made a commitment to help mitigate the effects of climate change by passing the Ready for 100 resolution back in 2020 and having created a draft of our Energy Transition Plan, which is now on the web site for public comment.
- "Just as we have done in the past with Deer Management, 202 development, Open Space and Preserved Land, and as we are currently underway with the survey on the old Flea Market property, we continue to be transparent and open in our interface with the community and in our decision making. This is another effort to ensure we keep to those precepts.”
John Francis then opened the event introducing speakers and provided this overview:
- “In July 2020 Solebury Township adopted the resolution called Ready For 100 or Rf100 for short. This has been a national movement initiated and run by the Sierra Club. Multiple cities and regions have made this commitment across the country. The high-level goals are to achieve 100% clean (that is non-fossil fuel) electricity by 2035, and clean energy, including vehicles and heating & cooling by 2050. So, you see this is a long-term commitment.
- "The Rf100 commitments set out by the Sierra Club, and which are embodied in our resolution, can be seen in the accompanying slide presentation which we have used as our structure for the Forum evening. Firstly, and primarily, the best way to reduce energy consumption is by not using it! This means higher efficiency in homes and commercial properties and vehicles. Shannon Pendleton and Jim Mansfield will elaborate on how this affects Solebury by improving thermal insulation and switching to high efficiency appliances.
- "Another goal of Rf100 is to be transparent and inclusive in the decision making and implementation of any changes. Trying to keep things local also has enormous benefits in reducing transportation, vehicular traffic and also keeps jobs local.
- "We will be advocating and lobbying at all levels of government to promote these initiatives.
- "Finally, we must measure and demonstrate our achievements to be sure we are making progress."
- "Some of the things that Solebury has been up to over the past few years can also be seen in the slide presentation.
- "One of the most impactful things we can do at the township is to lead by example and many of these initiatives and achievements, while providing some efficiency in energy usage also demonstrate and educate us all to the possibilities that can be translated back into all our homes and businesses.”
Please review the slides from the presentations and the notes captured from the working groups: