Chester County Seeks Public's Help To Fight Climate Change

WEST CHESTER, PA — Chester County is looking for public feedback on its upcoming plan to combat global climate change on a local level.

A virtual public meeting for the proposed Climate Action Plan will be held on March 4 at 6:30 p.m. by the Chester County Planning Commission and the county’s Environmental and Energy Advisory Board.

Residents will have the chance to ask county officials about the plan and provide their feedback. Those interested in attending the meeting can register online at the county’s website.

The goal of the plan is to "reduce the county's contribution to global climate change and equitably improve the health and well-being of the community," according to a copy of the report.

The current draft of the plan has been in development since 2019 and is an update to Chester County's original Greenhouse Gas Reduction Report from 2010, according to a statement from the county.

One aspect of the plan is to maintain and expand open green spaces throughout the county.

The undeveloped land acts as a sponge for emissions, mitigating their impact on the environment, according to the report. Green spaces can also help filter out pollution and provide clean, breathable air.

The plan also outlines Chester County transitioning from fossil fuels to renewable and clean energy sources as 62 percent of the area’s greenhouse gas emissions are a result of energy consumption from commercial, industrial and residential buildings. Of that amount, 69 percent of the emissions are a from commercial and industrial uses while the remaining 31 percent come from homes, according to the report.

To help reduce emissions the plan outlines several measures that can be done including installing solar panels, replacing gas appliances with electrical ones and installing high efficiency lightbulbs throughout the county.

Another action the county plans to take is transitioning a majority of its vehicle fleet from gas-powered to electric cars and to install more electric vehicle charging stations.

A full draft of the Climate Action Plan can be read on the county's website.