Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

Recently, the Winchester City Hall played host to a meeting. 

However, it was unlike the City Commission or other traditionally held meetings. 

A gathering of the Clark County Regional Focus Group to discuss and brainstorm ideas regarding the Lexington-Fayette Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) Comprehensive Climate Action Plan took place with many from the community – including Clark County Judge-Executive Les Yates, Clark Coalition Executive Director Will Mayer, City Commissioner Kenny Book, and Winchester Stormwater Coordinator Shanda Cecil – present. 

Alli Johnson, Community Outreach Coordinator for BlueGrass Greensource, engineer Abby Terry of Tetra Tech, and Senior Program Manager for Sustainability Jada Walker Griggs of the City of Lexington hosted the events. 

“It’s great to be here, and it’s been really fun working with the Clark County community,” stated Johnson. 

“We are here to get your feedback,” added Terry. 

Congress passed the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, which provided many tools to pursue greenhouse gas pollution reductions, including the Climate Pollution Reduction Grant program. 

Through its implementation, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency aims to meet three objectives: tackle damaging climate pollution while supporting the creation of good jobs, lower energy costs for families, accelerate work to address environmental injustice, empower community-driven solutions in overburdened neighborhoods, and deliver cleaner air by reducing harmful air pollution in places where others live, work, play, and attend school. 

The program, which has multiple phases, requires states and MSAs to submit a Priority Climate Action Plan by March 1, 2024.

To reduce greenhouse gas emissions, we should shift from carbon-intense activities, such as driving a diesel or gas-powered vehicle, to low-carbon or carbon-neutral activities, such as driving an electric vehicle or walking. 

Reduction measures can be grouped into five categories: stationary energy, transportation, waste, agriculture, forestry, and other land use (AFOLU), as well as industrial processes and product use (IPPU). 

Individuals participating were asked to discuss what options could be taken to help reduce potential greenhouse gas emissions. 

Judge Yates acknowledged wanting to see emission reductions. At the same time, other thoughts—such as reducing LED lighting when not being used—were brought up. 

Utilizing effective transportation and stationary energy practices – including traffic management – were also mentioned. 

It was also pointed out that an understanding of the city and county’s needs, as well as their different needs, was necessary to fully consider what actions needed to be taken. 

Human activities such as fossil fuel combustion for homes and vehicles, waste handling practices, and different agricultural and industrial processes produce greenhouse gases, so a number of other potential strategies were also discussed. 

Several terms, such as waste-to-energy technologies – a process designed to convert waste into energy through various processes while also capturing and using emissions – were also introduced. 

Following the activity, each group presented their findings, and individuals were asked to complete a discussion worksheet. 

With Phase 2 of the program – which will expand the Priority Climate Action Plan into a Comprehensive Climate Action Plan – on the horizon, there is much to anticipate. 

Several Clark County and Winchester community members, including Judge-Executive Les Yates and City Commissioner Kenny Book, participated in the discussion regarding the Lexington-Fayette Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) Comprehensive Climate Action Plan.