A climate action plan, designed to help the City and Borough of Juneau achieve a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, is up for adoption at tonight’s (Monday) Assembly meeting.
In 2007, the assembly set a goal of reducing Juneau’s emissions by 20 percent by the end of 2012. With less than half of that accomplished to date, the city is unlikely to meet its target.
The climate action plan sets a new goal of a 25 percent reduction by 2032. At a recent assembly work session, Consultant Zoe Morrison explained how the plan lays out potential actions and strategies that can be used to help achieve the objective.
“We don’t expect that all of these actions will be completed, but it provides a list of the range of things that you can do to reduce emissions,” Morrison said. “And the thinking is that the state, the CBJ, federal agencies, home and business owners, and residents will select the actions based on cost effectiveness, new technology, the potential for reduction, and what makes the most sense in each situation.”
At that work session, assembly members Carlton Smith and Randy Wanamaker voted against forwarding the plan to the full assembly. Wanamaker wanted to know how much the plan would cost to implement.
“We know there will be costs to us and we need to understand what those costs will be,” Wanamaker said.
Assembly woman Karen Crane argued that a cost estimate is unnecessary at this stage in the plan.
“I really looked at these as not saying that we’re going to do all of these things, but as potential suggestions for future action,” said Crane.
In addition to the climate action plan, the assembly tonight will hold public hearings on several spending ordinances. The biggest one would appropriate 6.6-million dollars for the Juneau Airport’s runway safety area project. Most of those funds come from a Federal Aviation Administration grant.
Tonight’s meeting starts at 7 p.m. in City Hall Assembly Chambers. It can be heard live on KTOO.
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