Climate and Energy Action Plan (CEAP)

What will this plan achieve? The modeled emission reductions in this section pro vide a sense of what could be achieved if Ashland took aggressive action on climate change by implementing actions set forth in the Plan. Reductions are presented as groupings of similar actions, but do not precisely represent the reductions associated with those actions. This is due to challenges in attributing emission reduction values to individual actions. Potential emission reductions associated with individual actions can be difficult to quantify with certainty due to their interdependent nature. For example, reduced emissions associated with switching from gasoline to electric vehicles will depend largely on the mix of energy sources used to generate electricity and the average fuel economy of the vehicles. Emissions associated with use of electricity will in turn be affected by other actions in this plan, such as increased local renewable energy production. It is therefore difficult and counterproductive to single out reductions associated with any individual action. Assessing emissions reductions is also complicated by uncertainty in underlying variables and assumptions. The efficacy of expanded education and outreach efforts around home energy efficiency will depend on many factors, including the populations to which outreach will be conducted, the extent to which the City has already reached existing residences, as well as external factors, such as the state of the economy, which influences people’s willingness to take risks and invest in new technologies. Given these limitations, actions in this plan were not quantitatively modeled for efficacy. Rather, actions were qualitatively assessed relative to other potential actions using a set of criteria that included estimated emissions reduction potential. Qualitative assessment informed the order of priority actions in this plan. It is expected that, at the time of implementation, the City will undertake more detailed modeling efforts to quantify anticipated outcomes. What's in a goal? Ashland has chosen to pursue a science-based target for cutting community greenhouse gas emissions, which means that the community is committed to doing its part towards preventing the worst impacts of climate change. This thought experiment demonstrates the extent of what would be needed to achieve these real emission reductions. Meeting this target means changing the way Ashland moves, lives, and functions as a community. It will not be easy, but it will be critical for addressing this global crisis that threatens our current and future livelihoods. 43 ASHLAND CLIMATE & ENERGY ACTION PLANVISION FOR THE FUTURE 43