With climate change supported by overwhelming scientific consensus, West Windsor Environmental Commission Chair Michael Hornsby unveiled a draft plan on how West Windsor can reduce its greenhouse gas emissions at the July 13 Council meeting. Supported by a $25,000 grant from Sustainable Jersey, announced in 2011, the Climate Action Plan (CAP) aims to reduce the township’s emissions by 28.1 percent by 2020, compared to 2012 emission levels, or 96,403 metric tons, and then achieve a 79 percent reduction in 2012 emissions by 2050.
“You have the United Nations, the pope, the European oil companies, the defense establishment, the intelligence community, all calling climate change an issue,” Hornsby says. “People are starting to pay more attention. It is important for officials to know that the community supports this.”
The Environmental Commission will seek community input in the next three months, and all stakeholders are welcome to submit comments. Afterwards the Commission will seek adoption of the CAP by Council. Adoption constitutes support for the overall intent and direction of the CAP but would not be a financially binding commitment. Specific actions would be subject to the township’s usual review and approval process.
In his presentation before Council, Hornsby summarized the future problems posed by climate change, which is driven by greenhouse gas emissions, and what West Windsor can do to reduce emissions over time. According to the National Climate Assessment, because of climate change the northeast can expect increasing heat waves, intense precipitation, and drought.
In 2012 West Windsor emitted 340,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide, the equivalent of 38.5 million gallons of gasoline or the yearly energy use of 31,204 homes. Transportation accounted for more than half of the township’s emissions. A quarter of township emissions came from heating fuels, and just under a fifth from electricity purchases.
Hornsby says residents can reduce their carbon footprint by switching to LED lighting and owning energy-efficient appliances. The website www.njcleanenergy.com lists government financial incentives to upgrade home energy efficiency. For those interested in reducing transportation emissions, he recommends plug-in electric cars. In addition to driving a plug-in vehicle, his electricity is 100 percent wind-generated, purchased from a third party supplier at a roughly 15 percent higher rate than utility electricity.
In addition to alternative fueled vehicles, walking, biking, carpooling, and mass transit are other means of reducing one’s transportation footprint.
Municipal operations account for one percent of the entire township’s emissions, and the CAP includes direct actions the municipal government can take. Hornsby says initial recommendations will be “low hanging fruit” that save the township money while reducing emissions. Such immediate improvements include replacing existing lighting with LED bulbs, which consume significantly less energy, and implementing HVAC upgrades once older equipment needs replacing. Longer-term CAP recommendations include staggered vehicle fleet replacement and fuel switching.
The decreasing cost of photovoltaic solar panels is worth monitoring, according to Hornsby, especially if solar costs dip below utility rates.
After the CAP presentation, Mayor Shing-Fu Hsueh said the township has earned silver recognition from Sustainable Jersey, but he is going for gold.
Hornsby’s presentation was underscored afterwards when nine Girl Scouts took turns exhorting the public to value the township’s ash trees. All this took place before Council voted on a packed agenda filled with big line items and numerous property acquisitions at the July 13 meeting.
Wearing neon green T-shirts that said “Save the Ash Trees,” members of Girl Scout Troop 70056 took turns delivering their message to Council and urging residents to adopt a tree. After the impressive opening act, landscape architect Dan Dobromilsky then updated Council on the impact of the Emerald Ash Borer, stating that the goal is to save a fifth of the 2,000 ash trees on public land.
Council approved the first agenda item, a bond ordinance authorizing the issuance of $3.99 million for capital projects. However, a second ordinance authorizing $525,000 for the maintenance of the township’s open space properties was tabled after township resident Marshall Lerner raised concerns about the source of the funding.
The ordinance calls for about $500,000 in public land and open space maintenance and development, and Council vice president Linda Geevers clarified that the line item had previously been adopted during the budget process. However, Council President Bryan Maher said, “We want to know from the CFO exactly where they are spending.”
Every other item on the agenda was passed unanimously.
#b#2015 Sewer Rate Set.#/b# The 2015 sewer rate is $3.97 per 100 cubic feet (750 gallons) of sewer flow. This is based off a total rate of $3.3 million, divided by the township’s water consumption of 83 million cubic feet.
Cranbury Road sidewalk update. West Windsor-based BANC3 Inc. will provide survey, engineering, and design services for the first phase of the sidewalk project, which covers the stretch of Cranbury Road from Route 571 to Perry Drive. Council approved the $91,784 contract, which will be fulfilled within three months. Cranbury Road resident Don Watrous and resident Silvia Ascarelli, who lives on nearby Mellville Road, both voiced support in response to the project’s progress.
The professional services are expected to completed by mid-October, and construction will begin as early as next spring once the township secures a contractor. However, Business Administrator Marlena Schmid said it is possible construction may not start until next summer, due to easement acquisition from property owners and pending state DEP approvals.
#b#Open Space Acquisition.#/b# Council introduced two ordinances for the purchase of the 35.42-acre Cella parcels at 174 and 180 Clarksville Road, near the Meadow Road bridge. The public hearing for the ordinances is on Monday, August 3.
The township will pay $564,600, or more than $15,000 per acre, and roughly half the cost will later be reimbursed by the county open space program. Council also approved a resolution to receive $200,000 from the county for the township’s $455,000 May purchase of the 10.4-acre Penn Lyle Woods parcel, located near the intersection with Village Road West.
#b#Liquor license renewal.#/b# With prior approval from the Police Division and the Health Department, Council approved the 2015-2016 liquor license renewals. McCaffrey Supermarket owns the distribution license, while the Bog, Brick House Tavern, Hyatt Place, Bahama Breeze, and Seasons 52 own consumption licenses.
#b#Office Space Conversion.#/b# Council approved a developer’s agreement between the township and Princeton International Trading and Consulting LTD. A biopharma services company, Princeton International plans to renovate and convert a two-story house and a 1.5-story barn at 3639 Route 1 near Overlook Center into approximately 5,236 square feet of office space. In addition, two lots have been converted into a single .7 acre lot, and parking will be installed.
In other news, Ayesha Hamilton was appointed as an alternate member of the Affordable Housing Committee. Council also approved the reimbursement of last year’s solid waste collection to Avalon Watch and the Mews at Princeton Junction for $201,693; and the reimbursement of refuse, recycling and snow removal costs to the Homeowner Associations of Colonnade Point, Village Grande, Princeton Greens, West Winds, and the Elements for $44,695.
