Climate and Energy Action Plan (CEAP)

APPENDIX A: PUBLIC C OMMENTS AND QUESTION S Ashland Climate and Ener gy Action Plan: Open House #3 Page | 5 Appendi x A: Public Comment s and Questions Comments Comments Need city to sponsor longer RVTD routes as we do the Ashland branch of the Jackson Co. Library, roa d, diets and free and open side walks, safe from impediments and harassment Implement 10 x 20 The current plan lacks language protecting intact, carbon -storing ecosystems from sustainable energy developments. We can protect biodiversity and supply sustainable energy to our community. Do not forget commercial buildings, parking lots, and waste places as locations for solar. Please also prioritize the biggest "bang for the buck", namely energy conservation. Under strategy BE -1-2, I strongly support rooftop solar , but have serious concerns about "the installation of a large -scale community solar project." These concerns are both financial and environmental. I would not support any such large -scale project that would result in the loss of undeveloped land - for exa mple, the Imperat rice property, which is one over Hot has been discussed for a large solar array. The Imperatric e property has outstanding ecological values, including rare bunchgrass grasslands and one of the state's largest populations of the declining g rasshopper sparrow. If a large community solar project can be proven to be financially viable and ecologically feasible (i.e. net positive, then all infrastructure and maintenance impacts are calculated), then such a project must be located on land that ha s already been developed and has little ecological integrity. Thank you for all your work! The question of how to hold Ashland citizens accountable was not answered. Pleas e draw up a plan to do that. Even if it holds them accountable in baby steps, littl e by little. Otherwise I fear that citizens will not do enough, for example; 1 ) requiring recycling, at least of cans , and 2) withdraw privileges if people don't take alternative transportation at least monthly or weekly. PS. Reward people for what steps t hey take and announce their rewards. Show movies WEEKLY re: environmental topics + food justice. i.e. Gaining Ground; Cow spiracy; Eating you Alive; etc. If not in place already, add books like John Jarna's "50 Things you can do to save the world" and/or books like that into the curriculum for K -12 + University level. CEAP Commission can help businesses become less energy hogs + encourage on -line meeting venues such as joinme.com I use a woman's urinal to urinate in and put it in my compost outside - or spread in the garden if it's raining. You all have done an amazing job I really liked the panel presentations. That format was very accessible and helpful. Nice handling of Q & A also. Thank you to every member on this committee for their time, talent, and commitment to a huge job well done. I greatly appreciate your efforts and welcoming attitude to include Ashland citizens to be informed and part of this process. I am proud to be an Ashland citizen.