Chester County Greenhouse Gas Reduction Report
The Board of County Commissioners recognizes the importance of addressing greenhouse gas emissions within Chester County. The Board formed the Chester County Greenhouse Gas Reduction Task Force in 2007 to study the issue and develop an action plan for reducing greenhouse gases. The resulting report established a blueprint for how the County, local municipalities, business and other stakeholders can reduce their carbon footprint.
Growth and Greenhouse Gases
Chester County is faced with an economic and environmental challenge related to greenhouse gas creation — how to respond to ever increasing energy consumption and the release of greenhouse gases associated with growth in Chester County and due to the County's governmental operations. Chester County is the fastest-growing county in Pennsylvania, with an anticipated increase of over 150,000 people over the next 30 years. Growth in Chester County — including population, vehicle miles travelled, employment, economic activity, etc., all contribute to the creation of greenhouse gasses.
Task Force
The Greenhouse Gas Reduction Task Force (GHGRTF), provided written recommendations to the County of Chester to address climate change from an economic, technical and environmental standpoint. The GHGRTF's membership included experts in climate science, the energy industry, the environment, land use and transportation, waste management, law, agriculture and forestry, construction, communications, and government agency representatives.
Report
The GHGRTF prepared a report, which was adopted by the County Board of Commissioners in 2009. The report included assessments of the County's energy usage and carbon dioxide emissions and trends, and created targets for actions, goals and assessing progress. The GHGRTF report additionally has been coordinated with the update to the Chester County Comprehensive Plan, Landscapes2, and the implementation of the Chester County Comprehensive Plan is intimately linked to the message of sustainability in this website.