Climate and Energy Action Plan (CEAP)

Transition to clean energy Energy used for buildings and transportation makes up half of Ashland’s historic greenhouse gas emissions. Most of these emissions are from the combustion of natural gas by residential and commercial buildings, electricity consumption, and gasoline used to fuel residential on-road travel. Addressing energy-related emissions requires a combination of reduced and lower-carbon energy use. The majority of energy consumed by Ashland's buildings is purchased from Bonneville Power Administration (BPA), which sources its electricity largely from hydro and nuclear power. The majority of energy consumed by Ashland's transportation sector comes from the direct combustion of gasoline and diesel fuel. Switching existing fuels, such as natural gas and gasoline, to cleaner fuels such as low-carbon electricity can lower the overall emissions profile of Ashland's current energy use and reduce reliance on fossil fuels. Furthermore, the introduction of new clean energy sources, such as local renewable energy, as well as increased conservation and energy efficiency, can help offset the increased electricity loads caused by fuel-switching and increased cooling demands anticipated under future climate change. These actions in combination act synergistically to reduce total energy-related emissions. The following Climate and Energy Action Plan strategies are cornerstones of this clean energy transition: • Support cleaner energy sources. • Support more efficient vehicles. • Improve energy demand management. Example actions within these strategies include supporting community solar projects, smart grid technologies, and actions and initiatives that accelerate fuel-switching such as electric vehicle infrastructure requirements. 34 ASHLAND CLIMATE & ENERGY ACTION PLANVISION FOR THE FUTURE