Durham Reporter

City of Durham issued the following announcement on Oct. 22. 

Plan Provides Blueprint Toward City’s Sustainability Goals

Durham has renewed its commitment to using 100% renewable energy and achieving carbon neutrality in the coming years now that its action plan has been adopted by the City Council.

Mayor Steve Schewel praised the City of Durham’s new Carbon Neutrality and Renewable Energy Action Plan, which was adopted in a unanimous vote during last night’s City Council meeting. “I’m excited because we set ambitious goals and what this report shows me is that we can meet them,” said Mayor Schewel. “This is a practical, incredibly detailed report. The consultants did a great job. I read a lot of these things, we all do on the Council, but this report is one of the best.”

The plan was developed with the assistance of a consultant, GDS Associates, Inc., in response to goals set by City Council in 2019 calling on the City organization to use 80% renewable energy in City operations by 2030, achieve carbon neutrality in City operations by 2040, and reach 100% renewable energy in City operations by 2050.

The action plan calls on the City to procure renewable energy through programs such as Duke Energy’s Green Source Advantage, by siting solar arrays on City facilities, and by tapping methane from sewage treatment processes to generate electricity for City buildings. It also recommends electrification of the City’s vehicle and transit fleets, constructing future City facilities to green standards, and improving energy efficiency in new and existing City facilities. 

“The plan provides a practical framework to guide our efforts toward meeting our adopted goals,” said Director Jina Propst of the City’s General Services Department. “The plan shows our commitment toward building a more sustainable, livable community for all of our residents who live here now as well as those to come in the future.”

For more information about the City’s sustainability and energy management initiatives, visit the Sustainability and Energy Management webpage or contact Sustainability and Energy Analyst Paul Cameron with the City’s General Services Department at (919) 560-4197, extension 21244 or by email. 

Original source can be found here.