Erie sets course for zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2030

Erie officials approved a roadmap Tuesday to electrify many town-owned facilities, with the goal to have zero greenhouse gas emissions from municipal use by 2030.

The Erie City Council unanimously approved the Beneficial Electrification Plan during its Tuesday meeting.

Sustainability Manager Eryka Thorley explained that beneficial electrification is the process of replacing fossil fuel-burning equipment with electricity-using equivalents in residential, commercial and government buildings and transportation. She said switching over to electricity helps reduce the city’s greenhouse gas emissions and overall carbon footprint. The plan was developed with the help of Partners in Energy, an Xcel Energy program.

The plan outlines goals to electrify current town buildings and new commercial and residential developments. The plan states that goals for the community are to have a no-net increase in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, despite the growing population, and 100% net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 as compared to 2023 levels.

While the electrification plan mainly highlights how the town facilities can be electrified, Thorley noted there are opportunities for residents and business owners to electrify private homes as well. She said that Xcel offers electrification rebates.

Town officials also are looking at getting ground source heat pumps for many facilities, according to Chad Roeder, facilities project manager.

“We’re looking to either retrofit or have construction, but there is that front end cost that is going to increase,”Roeder said.

He said that the town looks to get grants from a variety of sources to help offset the cost of electrification. One program mentioned in the plan is a $199 million federal grant from the Environmental Protection Agency’s Climate Pollution Grants to the Denver Regional Council of Governments, of which Erie is a member.