Ashland’s Climate and Energy Action Plan (CEAP) is an ambitious framework to reduce our community’s climate pollution and prepare for likely climate impacts. Started in 2015 and approved by the City Council in 2017, the CEAP includes a list of goals, strategies, and actions that the Ashland community could undertake between 2017 and 2025. The CEAP establishes climate goals for the Ashland community as a whole, as well as goals for municipal operations. Each year, Climate and Energy Analyst, Stu Green, presents a report to the City Council on the progress towards reducing emissions and preparing for climate impacts as well as a review of key progress indicators.
The 2021 report was presented at the May 4 City Council Business Meeting. Highlights of that report include:
- Ashland is not meeting its goals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Since 2015, there has been a consistent increase in natural gas connections and consumption. Achieving Ashland’s mitigation goal will require continued attention to reducing transportation and greater focus on natural gas emissions.
- More clarity is required regarding strategies and actions to prepare for likely climate impacts.
- Equitable climate action demands a special emphasis on assisting low and medium income residents by maximizing current programs, opportunities, and resources to this end.
- Expand the CEAP into a regional effort by engaging a broader array of stakeholders and decision makers. Coordinate regional climate planning and increase ownership of community-based actions.
- Ashland is making progress on several fronts, notably in vehicle electrification and wildfire risk mitigation.
- Although municipal operations account for a small percentage of Ashland's greenhouse gas emissions, it's important for the City to lead the way with investment choices that reduce emissions and increase resilience to likely climate impacts.
For the full presentation and report, view the following links:
Staff Report,
Presentation, and
Meeting Video. For more information on CEAP progress including available incentive programs, information on CEAP related grants and policies, and how you can better prepare for climate change, visit
ashland.or.us/climate.