EAC Support Kit

In suburban and rural townships and boroughs it's the Environmental Advisory Councils (EACs) that are leading the way to promote discussion, draft resolutions and explore ways to plan for a transition to 100% renewable energy. EAC members know the local priorities and attitudes of the community and elected officials. They can craft the most meaningful message to supervisors and councilpersons and respond to their concerns in the most appropriate way.

Following is an evolving package of our best presentations and information to help make a compelling case for setting goals for 100% renewable energy and achieving those goals.

Narrative - making the pitch

 "As the environmental (or sustainability) advisors to the board of supervisors (or council), we have a responsiblity to explore and consider any opportunities that will improve our community's carbon footprint, air quality and public health. A transition to using clean renewable energy is a real step in that direction. A plan to get to 100% renewable energy - covering electricity, heating and transportation - is a huge win for everyone concerned.

"We recommend setting a goal to transition to 100% renewable electricity by 2035, and other sources by 2050, and taking steps to achieve that goal through collaborative regional energy planning that defines opportunities for switching to energy from the sun, wind, water, geothermal and biomass over the next several decades. We believe that these goals can be achieved in a fair and equitable manner without significantly increasing our energy expenditures beyond what our community is spending today. We believe that through energy efficiency opportunities within our municipal facilities we can pay for the costs of energy planing and work with neighboring municipalities to realize competitive energy pricing through aggregated puchasing of electricity and materials."

Sample resolution

- Guideline Doc
- Kennett Twp
- Template Resolution (includes call for PA 100% goals, authorization of $ for county energy planner)

10 min presentation - for EACs

- Short presentation - Google Slides
- Notes for each of the slides
- 1 page fact sheet about PA energy policy, renewables, jobs, etc to give to EAC 

Important Links to:

- 2018 Case Studies
- reference studies/plans
- chesco clean energy leaders page
- local renewable and efficiency solutions list (PV installers, green roofers, EE consultants, financing, geothermal)
- resources for elected officials (city examples, local RE jobs data, studies & reports, health reports)
- recourses for homeowners (tips and opportunities)
- resources for volunteers (DVRPC energy & emissions data, climate and RE reports)

Cost estimates for community energy planning

- no municipality in the area has yet commissioned an energy plan/study
- unofficial estimates for a single muni are around $15,000
- unoffical estimates for a multi-muni area are $50,000 +
- expectations are that an energy planner could easily find that much savings or more in efficiency measures in municipal facilities to cover these costs

Examples of Municapal Action & Energy Cost Saving across US

        - How your local electeds can support clean energy - printable summary (great handout) 
        - Arlington, VA - Community Energy Plan

Contact info for local support

Contact these volunteer leaders with questions or invite them to present to your EAC/SAC or board.

- Ready For 100 team coordinator for SE Pennsylvania: Jim Wylie - jim.wylie@verizon.net
- Chester County team leader: Paula Kline - kline.paula@gmail.com
- Montgomery County team leader: Bill Sabey - billzmail-eab@yahoo.com
- Delaware County team leader: Jocolyn Bowser-Bostick jbowserb@yahoo.com
- Bucks County: Jim Wylie - jim.wylie@verizon.net

EACs in the area that are actively discussing 100% renewable energy goals

Chester County
- West Chester Borough SAC - Jim Wylie
- Schuylkill Twp - Jonathan Myers
- East Bradford Twp - Ed McConnell
- East Pikeland Twp - Elizabeth Burns
- West Vincent Twp - Tish Molloy
- Charlestown Twp - Mark Connolly
- Tredyffrin Twp - Rutger Boerema

Montgomery County
- Plymouth Twp - Bill Sabey
- Whitemarsh Twp - Lou Ann Merkle
- Conshohoken Borough - Matthew Breidenstein
- Ambler Borough - ??
- Lower Merion Twp - Mike Hays

Delaware County
- Haverford Twp - Steve Clark
- Radnor Twp - Sara Pilling