Kent's new Climate Action Plan outlines city's carbon neutral future - Record-Courier

Kent's new Climate Action Plan outlines city's carbon neutral future

What we know about Kent's Climate Action Plan to mitigate effects of climate change
Derek Kreider

Kent has joined the ranks of cities like Oberlin, Cleveland, and Columbus — communities that are trying to prepare for and mitigate the effects of climate change.

Late last month, the city released the final draft of its Climate Action Plan, a document that will act as a roadmap to Kent's carbon-neutral future.

The city hired a global environmental health safety and sustainability services firm called Keramida Inc. to help craft the plan. Last October, the firm's representatives held a public input session to glean what residents thought should be included in the plan.

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At the meeting, Nick McCreary, senior sustainability manager with Keramida said, "When you adopt a Climate Action Plan, you are preparing yourself for a changing world, to ensure that Kent can thrive in what is going to be a changing world, whether it's climatic or regulatory."

The plan identifies the three most significant risks to the future of the Midwest's climate: rising temperatures, changes in precipitation patterns and higher chances of extreme weather.

What's included in the plan?

In 2016, Kent completed an inventory of the city's largest producers of greenhouse gasses like carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide. The results showed that residential and commercial energy production and transportation account for almost 90% of the city's greenhouse gas emissions.

The plan outlines strategies designed to tackle emissions in those three areas, as well as waste management and agriculture, forestry and other land use.

Because commercial and residential energy production and transportation are responsible for the vast majority of Kent's greenhouse gas emissions, the plan focuses on those three areas.

What are the plans to address commercial and residential emissions?

To manage stationary energy — emissions from commercial and residential energy generation — the plan calls for the establishment of a Municipal Energy Management Plan that will act as an extension of the Climate Action Plan.

The Municipal Energy Management Plan will be written by experts and will identify ways to minimize Kent's environmental impact while saving taxpayer dollars.

Methods that can be used include:

- Energy audits.
- "Green leasing" in which owners and tenants agree to implement sustainability measures.
- A greenhouse gas reduction ordinance.
- Expansion of the use of solar energy.
- Advocating for the statewide overhaul of building and energy codes.

How will Kent curb emissions from transportation?

To curb emissions coming from combustion engine transportation inside the city limits, the plan recommends that Kent install electric vehicle infrastructure, including private and public charging stations. Before doing so, the plan states that Kent should create a feasibility study.

The study will be used to evaluate charging options, power options, funding opportunities, operations/business models and the possibility of replacing the municipal and school district fleet.

According to the plan, Kent is spending the next five years making the city easier to navigate for those walking and biking.

These are the six goals outlined in the Climate Action Plan that Kent will pursue:

- Starting in 2025, begin transforming East Main Strett into a more bike-friendly road for those en route to residences, downtown businesses or the universit.
- Finalizing an agreement with Akron for the Lake Rockwell Trail that will connect regional trails, provide new access points and increase walkability and bikeability to multiple schools.
- Finding funds for the completion of the Portage Hike and Bike trail.
- Rehabilitating the Stow Street pedestrian bridge.
- By 2025, begin adding bike lanes to Hudson Road.
- Partnering with Davey Tree to develop safety improvements along state Route 43 to slow vehicles as they enter the city limits.

Contact reporter Derek Kreider at DKreider@Gannett.com