Sustainability and Energy Action Plan

"IT'S THE CLIMATE" GRANTS PASS SUSTAINABILITY AND ENERGY ACTION PLAN What will this mean for Grants Pass’ future? The potential consequences of these hazards include: ●Challenges providing essential services such as wastewater, water, 911 call center operations, police and fire service due to electrical grid shortages and isolation, or market -driven liquid fuel shortages ●Loss of efficiency and efficacy of less -essential government operations due to both short - and long -term power outages ●Increased pressure on the City’s general fund from rising energy expenses due to higher electricity costs and volatile liquid fuel costs and/or shortages, and potential damage to City property from natural hazards ●Sizeable increases in utility billing rates from rising energy expenses due to higher electricity costs and volatile liquid fuel costs and/or shortages, and potential damage to City property from natural hazards ●Increased medical spending due to elevated rates of heat-related and respiratory illnesses, which is more likely to lead to medical debt due to the relatively high rates of poverty in this region ●Increased financial stress on the Grants Pass population due to high energy prices, increased medical expenses/debt, and natural disaster property damage, which, especially in cases of severe property damage, can result in homelessness ●Elevated rates of heat-related illness due to extreme heat, loss of power for air conditioning, and the particular vulnerabilities of this community ●Elevated rates of respiratory illness due to poor air quality from fires and the particular vulnerabilities of this community ●Declining worker productivity due to increases in extreme heat event severity and frequency Inaction could result in economic distress for the City and its citizens as well as a decline in livability. However, there are actions the City can take to minimize these hazards. 21