Stratford Community Energy and Greenhouse Gas Reduction Plan

The Town of Stratford will develop a greenhouse gas reduction plan by identifying actions at both corporate and community levels. As a member of Partners for Climate Protection (PCP), the town wants to complete PCP milestones 1, 2 and 3 (GHG emissions inventory, setting emission targets and developing a local action plan) for community GHG emissions as well as milestones 2 and 3 for corporate emissions. Stratford will first undertake the definition of the plan’s goals and objectives. The development of visionary targets will match the long-term goals laid out in the Stratford Climate Change Adaptation Plan, the Stratford Wind Energy Policy, the Stratford Sustainable Strategic Plan, the Stratford Watershed Management Plan and the Stratford Official Plan. The next stage includes the analysis of the community’s current energy usage and costs to provide a snapshot of energy use in Stratford. This evaluation will be done in conjunction with the local power company and the PEI Office of Energy Efficiency. The Community energy plan will provide a roadmap for Stratford on how to address energy consumption, and will include five main areas: land use, transportation, buildings, infrastructure and energy supply. Cost-sharing and tax-sharing programs will also be studied regarding the implementation of energy-efficient and sustainable systems within residential and corporate locations throughout Stratford. The development of the plan will be coordinated by a Steering Committee which will have a mandate to ensure the broad engagement of the community. The Steering Committee will include representatives from the Council, the sustainability committee, the infrastructure department, the planning department, the local electric utility, the provincial Office of Energy Efficiency, the Stratford and Area Watershed Improvement Group, the local business community and residents. The final step of the plan will be the development of the implementation and monitoring strategy including budgets and timelines. The Town of Stratford will use the plan as a guiding force in the creation and alteration of by-laws and policies that will govern its community. The implementation of the plan will result in the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, energy use and energy costs as well as in the increase of use of renewable and natural resources. The Town of Stratford wishes to develop and implement a plan that is replicable and can be utilized by other communities. Stratford will produce a report that will focus on methodology and lessons learned to assist other communities in using similar techniques for energy planning and greenhouse reduction. (Project description from original funding application)