CEPs for Langford and Colwood

I stumbled accross an article in The Goldstream Gazette a few weeks ago that showed some signs of communities engaging with the public to reduce the city's environmental footprint. The cover story from February 20th talked about how the Cities of Langford and Colwood were planning to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The plans were aimed to meet provincial targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 33% by 2020 through implementing individual community energy plans, or CEPs.

CEPs look at individual communities'transportation, buildings, infrastructure and energy supply and distribuition and attempt to lower the greenhouse gases which they emit. The plans are partially funded by provincial gas tax money, as well as some partnerships with BC hydro and the Ministry of Community Development for funding. Both cities will require various forms of community input in order to effectively decrease their GHG emissions; currently the cities plan to work with universities and developments to achieve GHG reductions, and in some cases actually go off the grid or produce power and sell it back to the grid.

The City of Langford has already started its CEP, and has allotted $40,000 to broaden its scope. The City plans to share its CEP with other municipalities, which is also a part of the broader community participation; one group helping another related group to achieve the greater common goal of a healthier environment. Langford plans to fully implement their CEP within six to eight months, and it will also "include a brochure for politicians to help them understand what a CEP is, as well as templates of [their] plan" (Goldstream Gazette, 2009).


Source:
Dove, A. (2009). Langford, Colwood craft energy plans. Goldstream Gazette.