Corporate and Community Energy and Emissions Sustainability Plan

The Town of Smithers, situated in northwestern British Columbia, plans to develop corporate and community climate action plans to reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in corporate buildings and engineering assets and in the community, as part of their commitment to the Partners for Climate Protection (PCP) program. The planning team will first review background information and identify key focus areas and goals. They will then amend the existing corporate strategic plan and community charter to include objectives related to energy and emissions. The team will establish GHG reduction targets after looking at current and anticipated energy consumption and GHG emissions for corporate buildings and engineering assets and community buildings, transportation and solid waste. Following a review of existing reduction initiatives, the planning team will prepare a draft vision statement, carbon maps, reduction targets and proposed initiatives. A public consultation session will then take place to get feedback on the overall feasibility and appropriateness of the draft reduction measures. Once the planning team creates a draft community plan, the town will hold another public session to discuss the document. They will also hold two focus group meetings with town staff to address specific issues related to planning and infrastructure. The Corporate Energy and Emissions Plan will include a 2009 base-year energy and emissions inventory, a 2019 forecast of energy and emissions, a comprehensive list of reduction measures for buildings and engineering assets (including outdoor lighting, water and wastewater, fleet and solid waste operations), reduction targets, corporate sustainability initiatives and an implementation and monitoring plan. The Community Energy and Emissions Plan will include a 2007 base-year energy and emissions inventory, a 2017 forecast of community energy and emissions, a comprehensive listing of community reduction initiatives, reduction targets, community sustainability initiatives and an implementation and monitoring plan.

(Project description from original funding application)