Lacking some pertinent information to inform decisions to help tackle the city’s environmental goals, city council is slated to receive fuel in the form of data next year.
When it comes to tackling climate change, there’s a lot in the “multi-pronged approach that we’re proposing," Mayor Paul Lefebvre told Sudbury.com following Tuesday’s city council meeting.
“They are certainly things I campaigned on and fundamentally believe,” he added of reducing emissions. “It’s cost-savings for people at the end of the day, so we’re helping to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and saving money.”
During Tuesday’s meeting, Lefebvre tabled a successful resolution seeking municipal reports on various things to help inform decisions related to tackling the city’s Community Energy and Emissions Plan (CEEP) goals, which ultimately proposes net-zero emissions by 2050.
Requested reports include those addressing the following:
- Energy use and related costs at all municipal facilities (by the end of June)
- Itemization of current city fleet of low-emissions vehicles and multiple scenarios for increasing the number of low-emission vehicles over the next 10 years, with short-, medium-, and long-term goals, anticipated investments, cost efficiencies and payback periods (by the end of September)
- Develop a land-use planning policy framework to support renewable energy projects in the city, and review all city-owned properties to support the development of a renewable energy land bank program (by the end of September)
- Recommendations to council for the development of an agreement with third-party providers to increase the number of pay-to-use public electric-vehicle chargers on city property (by the end of June)
- Options for a community-wide home energy and resiliency retrofit guidance program (by the end of June)
Although some of these things will carry an initial cost, Lefebvre said the data they’re receiving is that they’ll result in net savings, such as which the city experienced by switching over to energy-efficient LED streetlights.
By switching out the city’s 15,000 street lights for LEDs, the city has shaved approximately $1.8 million from its annual energy bill.
The itemization of the city’s fleet of vehicles aims to see where the city’s currently at in its CEEP goal of a fully-electric fleet by 2035, which Lefebvre said might not be fully realized.
Vehicles such as snow plows and fire trucks don’t appear to have viable electric options in the marketplace thus far, so he said the report might include such things as hybrid options.
Electric-vehicle charger stations might be secured through private companies at no or little cost to the city, he said, clarifying, “My view is that we have municipal facilities with lots of parking, and power that’s there, so how can we maximize that possibility for ease of use?”
So far, the city has 13 electric vehicles, including its first electric Zamboni, which came into service at the T.M. Davies Community Centre and Arena in Lively in March and has received favourable reviews thus far.
The community-wide retrofit guidance program Lefebvre has requested information on would offer a "concierge service” to residents to help link them up with programs to help support making homes more environmentally friendly and potentially save them money, he said.
The mayor’s resolution came off the heels of city council receiving the city’s 2023 Climate Action Annual Report, which highlighted municipal actions taken last year.
“While there have been many successes and accomplishments, (greenhouse gas) emissions need to decrease at a faster rate and more commitment to energy efficient buildings, sustainable transportation and renewable energy production is still required,” the report concludes.
“Many municipalities within Ontario face similar challenges since achieving net-zero emissions status as a community is an ambitious goal that will require sustained effort and collaboration from both residents and municipalities.”
During the 2022 election cycle, Lefebvre pledged to support municipal causes to address climate change, and to establish stronger attainable goals leading up to the city’s ultimate goal of hitting net-zero emissions by 2050.
In March of this year, the city tabled its inaugural Climate Action annual report, as requested by the previous incarnation of city council and sets out stepping stones toward 2050.
A key challenge, according to the inaugural report, was upgrading and retrofitting the municipality’s buildings and equipment so they’re more environmentally friendly.
The mayor’s full motion is as follows:
THAT the City of Greater Sudbury City Council declared a climate emergency in 2019;
AND WHEREAS the 2023 Climate Action Annual Report highlights many project accomplishments related to climate mitigation and adaptation efforts across the Corporation’s programs, services, facilities and other lines of business;
AND WHEREAS the 2023 Climate Action Annual Report also demonstrates that “A significant reduction in (natural gas) usage can be seen when extensive retrofits occur, such as the upgrades that took place at the Howard Armstrong Recreation Centre;
AND WHEREAS the registration of electric vehicles (EVs) has been increasing year over year in Greater Sudbury;
AND WHEREAS investing in efficient, sustainable and climate-resilient infrastructure is consistent with Council’s Strategic Plan, most notably through 3.3, “Build Climate Resiliency into Existing Programs,” as well as the directive to “prioritize economic development opportunities and climate change adaptation in our operating and capital project choices” under objective 1.4, “Reinforce Infrastructure for New Development”;
AND WHEREAS the Community Energy and Emissions Plan (CEEP) suggests that staff “Develop a prioritized list of City buildings to retrofit and perform energy audits, payback analyses, and retrofits starting with the highest-priority buildings” to meet Goal 4 (Achieve net-zero emissions in City buildings);
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT City of Greater Sudbury staff provide a detailed report to council demonstrating energy use and related costs at all municipal facilities by Q2 2025;
AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT staff provide a report to Council by Q3 2025 itemizing the current City fleet of low-emissions vehicles, and outlining multiple scenarios for increasing the number of low-emissions vehicles over the next 10 years, with short-, medium-, and long-term goals, anticipating investments, cost efficiencies and payback periods;
AND THAT staff be directed to develop a land use planning policy framework to support renewable energy projects in the City and review City-owned properties to support the development of a renewable land-bank program by Q3 2025;
AND THAT staff bring recommendations to Council by Q2 2025 for the development of an agreement with reputable third-party providers to increase the number of pay-t0-use public EV chargers at City-owned facilities, at little to no additional cost cost to the City;
AND THAT staff bring a report to Council by Q2 2025 with options for a community-wide home energy and resiliency retrofit guidance program.
Tyler Clarke covers city hall and political affairs for Sudbury.com.