no technical barriers to achieving greenhouse targets, just political will, say city staff - solar powered street lights
Electric buses, building renovations and solar upgrades provide Edmonton with the technical capabilities to meet its climate change commitments by 2030.
The city council can even save money by doing so.
But project manager Mike Mellross said it requires a lot of upfront investment, he said when it comes to a recently released report on addressing greenhouse gas emissions in urban operations.
"This is a solid financial investment," he said in an interview . " He described a plan that cost $0. 34 billion plus $8.
Operating costs 25 million per year.
By 2030, it is expected to earn more than it is.
Edmonton will eventually save $76 million.
This is 2 photos on the Edmonton climate change document.
It set goals 10 years ago but failed, in part because officials are still making plans.
This time, they believe they have a solid business case for each element and have enough experience with the technology to know that it will pay off.
The plan was submitted to the council's urban planning committee in May 22.
The international agreement promises that Canada will reduce its greenhouse gas emissions to enough to raise the global average temperature to 1. 5 C and 2 C.
For Edmonton, that means cutting emissions from urban operations by half by 2030, says Mellross.
This will put the city on a carbon neutral track in 20 years.
This is the goal that Mayor Don Iveson has been promoting in the Edmonton declaration, the mayor's agreement reached at the recent climate change conference in Edmonton.
The current source of greenhouse gas emissions in Edmonton.
City officials in EdmontonCity have set a series of goals for the council, but suggest a 50 cut.
According to the plan, the city will: carry out energy renovation of 100 buildings, purchase 440 electric buses to replace diesel buses, strengthen work and change 46,000 street lamps to LED. Install solar energy on the best urban buildings in roof space (
20 MW or 6% of the total electricity consumption in the city)
Buy 100 of the city's remaining electricity from renewable sources.
The first four options will pay back the investment over time, Melrose said.
For example, LED lights will be paid off in nine years.
In terms of energy transformation, they will pay for themselves in an average of 11 years, he said, but it depends on the construction and work required.
When buying green energy, the city can use its big contract to encourage new companies to start generating wind, biomass or solar power from elsewhere, he said.
Calgary has purchased 100 of its electricity from renewable sources.
Mike Mellross serves as the city's new Green Home Guide at the Reno Build Reno vintage event at the Robins Health Learning Center at MacEwan University.
Bill Mah, chairman of the Edmonton Energy Transition Advisory Committee, said Edmonton now has data and experience to prove that its plan can work.
"This is a huge change," he said . "
"We can see a road.
"He wants Edmonton to find a financing mechanism to help pay for the cost, because the debt is not the same as the loan to build the bridge.
For this debt, savings will pay back the investment over time.
"The city is facing the same dilemma as the family," he said . "
They lack cash in front of them.
Now, the Commission may consider the cost of the new street light and consider what else they can build with that money.
However, green bonds or other instruments can classify these costs into different categories in the capital budget.
Estolte @ postmedia. comtwitter.
Why is Edmonton lagging behind on climate change targets?
Read the complete report of Edmonton's emission reduction method (
Urban planning in May 22