Chesco Hopes To Cut Greenhouse Gas Emissions 80 Percent In 2023

CHESTER COUNTY, PA — Chester County is working toward reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 80 percent by 2050, Rachael Griffith, sustainability director said.

Griffith provided an update on the county’s climate action plan enacted in 2021 to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Greenhouse gas emissions are primarily due to the emission of carbon dioxide released from coal, oil and gas.

The primary sources of greenhouse emissions come from buildings and energy, transportation and land use, waste management, and agriculture, food, and forestry.

In 2023, a top initiative includes converting some of the county’s fleet to electric vehicles and installing EV charging stations at some county facilities.

In West Chester, there are electrical vehicle charging stations these locations:

• Chestnut Street garage, 14 E. Chestnut St.,;
• Borough ]Hhall, 401 E. Gay St.
• Bicentennial Garage, 20 S. High St.

There are 67 public electric charging stations at 67 locations in Chester County. The list is available here.

The county hopes to convert 75 percent of the county vehicles to electric vehicles.

PennDOT is working on installing charging stations every 50 miles on state highways. The county also hopes to reduce employee vehicle mileage,

In 2023, other initiatives include:

• Investigating how to economically acquire electricity from renewable energy sources;
• Facilitating resource-sharing and collaboration between municipalities interested in advancing sustainability goals;
• Hosting a sustainability summit where sustainability experts can network and share information;
• Furthering projects at county facilities related to recycling, waste reduction, and reforestation through an employee committee, Go Green Chesco.